Ann Lee - May 12th, 2007.
AFTER a lengthy investigation in which President Katsav of Israel endured days of questioning over a sex scandal, the police recommended last night that he faces charges of raping and assaulting women.
The final decision on whether the President should stand trial on the charges of rape, sexual assault and fraud the most serious ever laid against an Israeli leader falls to Menachem Mazuz, the Attorney-General.
He is expected to reach a conclusion within two weeks on whether to indict President Katsav, who would almost certainly be forced to resign if the charges were laid against him.
Even though the President has relatively little power and his role is largely ceremonial, if he were forced from office the sensation would add further to the woes of Ehud Olmert, the Prime Minister, already under pressure for his handling of the 34-day conflict with Hezbollah.
AFTER a lengthy investigation in which President Katsav of Israel endured days of questioning over a sex scandal, the police recommended last night that he faces charges of raping and assaulting women.
The final decision on whether the President should stand trial on the charges of rape, sexual assault and fraud the most serious ever laid against an Israeli leader falls to Menachem Mazuz, the Attorney-General.
He is expected to reach a conclusion within two weeks on whether to indict President Katsav, who would almost certainly be forced to resign if the charges were laid against him.
Even though the President has relatively little power and his role is largely ceremonial, if he were forced from office the sensation would add further to the woes of Ehud Olmert, the Prime Minister, already under pressure for his handling of the 34-day conflict with Hezbollah.