Israeli president resigns under plea bargain

Israeli President Moshe Katsav submitted his letter of resignation today, as part of a much-criticised plea bargain that dropped planned rape charges and the threat of prison.

His resignation – two weeks before his seven-year term was to expire – takes effect on Sunday and clears the way for his indictment on lesser charges of indecent acts, sexual harassment and obstruction of justice.

He will receive a suspended prison sentence and be required to pay damages to two of his four accusers, all former female employees.

The plea deal Mr Katsav signed yesterday was a dramatic reversal by Attorney General Meni Mazuz, who had announced in January that he planned to try the president on charges of rape and other sex crimes – counts that could have landed him in prison for 20 years.

Mr Katsav’s accusers condemned the deal, as did women’s rights groups and newspaper commentators. A public opinion poll by the Dahaf Research Institute published today in the Yediot Ahronot daily showed 69% of those surveyed opposed it, and 73% thought justice was not served.

Claims Mr Katsav used his position as Israel’s ceremonial head of state to force himself on women were the most serious allegations ever brought against an Israeli leader and intensified growing worries about misconduct by a swelling list of officials, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

The deal, which dominated newspaper coverage today, was widely seen as a victory for Mr Katsav, who stepped aside from his duties in January to fight the rape allegations, but didn’t quit.

Parliament Speaker Dalia Itzik has served as acting president since January and will continue to do so until President-elect Shimon Peres is inaugurated next month.

At a televised news conference yesterday, one of Mr Katsav’s accusers stood by her story that he raped her, calling him a “pervert” and “serial sex offender” who turned her into a sex slave.