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A President in disgrace

If Israel's President Moshe Katsav had any residue of shame, he would have quit office when the police recommended to the Attorney General that he should be indicted on charges of rape, sexual harassment, and illegal wire-tapping. The President's defence team has taken the legalistic view that there is no need for him to remit office since he will be able to prove his innocence during hearings to be held by the Attorney General. The prosecutors do have a legal duty to give the defence a chance to be heard before the formal charge sheet is drawn up. However, the Attorney General's office is not likely to reject the police department's recommendation since it has carefully monitored the investigations at every stage. The public believes that full advantage is being taken of the constitutional bar against the indictment of incumbent Presidents. Mr. Katsav's critics think he will not give up his post unless the prosecution agrees not to indict him for the more serious offences. Ha'aretz, an independent newspaper of integrity, has indicated the solution by calling on the Knesset to do its duty by expeditiously completing the processes for impeaching the President. In any event, Mr. Katsav is likely to feel the full weight of the law in less than a year since his term ends in July 2007.

Legally speaking, Mr. Katsav must be treated as an innocent unless and until he is proved guilty of the charges in a court. However, the manner in which he chose to respond to the investigations has brought disgrace to his position. A police department that carried out its duty even when the subject of its investigation was the head of state has done much to redeem Israel's honour. The resilience and courage shown by the two women who were allegedly raped by Mr. Katsav and did not succumb to enormous pressure from the President's lawyers and political aides deserve special appreciation. Although the law might provide him with some cover, Mr. Katsav must realise he is on the wrong side of a functioning democratic order.

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