Opinion
He’s just a rapist
Assaf Wohl
Published: 04.01.11, 11:17
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27 Talkbacks for this article
1. irony
Michael ,   Haifa   (01.04.11)
The irony of this piece is perfectly appropriate for Katzav and all the other disgusting little people regerred to.
2. Religious or not
Sagi   (01.04.11)
This "man" should be erased from the annals of our history. All mention of him, all State documents that bear his signature should be archived and not be part of the public domain. School texts books should not include his name. Presidents should be listed from 1 to 9 but omitting 8. When his time comes he should be interred as a private citizen and not as a fromer President or officer of State. "After all he is only a rapist".
3. Excellent article 100% correct
Avi ,   Israel   (01.04.11)
Naturally not a word from his Royal Holliness Ayatollah supreme spritual leader Ovadia Yosef from his weekly surmon, but then he`s one of their flock of bleeting sheep who apparently can do no wrong. Let `s not forget it was Sh-ass that voted Katsav the sex offender in to office. If your going to declare yourself religious and start preaching to others while claiming the moral high ground at least have the decency to act like a human being apparently. Lets hope Katsav will join the Sh-ass prison wing where im assured he wil get 3 kosher meals aday.
4. theres not much need to shun some1 who was convicted of rape
Arik cohen ,   Ramat Hasharon   (01.04.11)
5. Them is harsh words, but there is truth here.
Reb L. Yell ,   Carmiel, Israel   (01.04.11)
6. Rapist?
Howard K   (01.04.11)
Channel 2 played the tapes recorded by ‘Aleph’ who accused Moshe Katsav of rape. Her story was not included in his indictment, but is nonetheless instructive. On the tapes Aleph is asking the president for $200,000 compensation. Her friend speaks to Katsav about a photo of her the president keeps in his drawer. On the photo, Aleph is half-naked, which suggests a consensual relationship. While I obviously don't know all the details of the situation, everything seems to point to a case where a woman allowed things go too far with her boss. A very common story. But to speak of "rape"? She stayed at her job and only years later she decided to accuse him of "rape". This whole thing seems to be one of an office affair later turned into a crime for other reasons. I'm not defending the guy. On the contrary. But I object to the word rape being used so casually. What I object the most is the way Assaf Wohl is dragging the whole religious community through the mud because of it. His laptop had hardly cooled from his previous diatribe against the Haredim when he decided to attack the religious from another angle. The secular obsession with religious Jews but not religious Arabs may reveal their own discomfort with aspects of their ancestry than with the religious Jews' own shortcomings. Get used to it, Assaf Wohl and friends. Rant and rave all you want. The religious will outnumber you eventually and the secular will become a dwindling hedonist curiosity for the tourists on the beaches of Tel Aviv. Anyway, Assaf Wohl, I'll be waiting for your next column dealing with some sordid aspect of the Arab culture and their sexual mores. Unless you, like the Jews you accuse on this article, are too selective regarding which Israeli citizens are above criticism.
7. What's your point, sir?
Observer 1 ,   DAMATURU, NIGERIA   (01.04.11)
I always marvel at the impudence with which HIGH MORAL STANDARD-CONSCIOUS journalists attack us, the feeble and the weak. Do we understand from your skewed arguments that you'd rather Katsav were a loonie leftist like so many around here? Have a nice day sir.
8. I love it ! to the point ....
palestinian   (01.04.11)
9. Just a rapist...
Nili   (01.04.11)
I question the strength of his "religious conviction". He is seldom shown wearing a kippah--if he was really religious it would be the opposite. Besides, religious or not the case should be judged on the facts--is that not what the judges did? If they did not then why are they not being called to task?
10. Slightly lower than the gutter
Ilan   (01.04.11)
Katsav's religious status is as relevant as the religious status of the chiloni guy who murdered his children. Wohl and his fellow gutter snipes deserve each other in their shallow pseudo intellectual musings about Katsav. It isn't irony it is just the modern substitute for blood libel.
11. #6 - Howard K
Michael Davison ,   Ra'anana, Israel   (01.04.11)
Rape is not only when a woman is forced to have sex at gun or knife-point. It's also rape when a woman is threatened with losing her job and pension benefits if she doesn't sleep with the boss. Your attitude is Neanderthal. Journalists write about what's in the news, not what isn't. When abuse stories come out about Arab abuse of women, there are plenty of editorials condemning it, you just ignore them because they don't interest you. How dense and obtuse can you be?
12. Assaf Wohl
Ephraim Elfassy ,   Venezuela   (01.04.11)
It is an abehration, an intelectual mastuberation (J. Genet) of not a grand scale (pity for A. Wohl, in beddroom activities) that the premption of Assaf in this deplorable piece of Op-ed has been constructed. An opinion ought to be focused on a central item, here we see the writer throwing suggestions of missdeeds in all over directions. That is not smart, he has to be more precise as to what is he trying to direct his cynisism?!!! He missed the point by not using President Katsav context yo allure to the immoral, and hypocritycal state of the political elites of the country; whether they are Sephardics or Ashkenazes. But, I sense that Assaf is not mature enough to create a challenge for a proper discussion, pity....
13. #11
Israel Israeli ,   Tel Aviv   (01.04.11)
I think #6 is saying something very simple, which is related to Ben Dror Yemini's article in Hebrew. You cannot avoid the fact that Katzav is viewed as an enemy of the political elite and the political elite is celebrating his downfall. To avoid the feeling of a witch hunt and to reinforce respect for the court system, the courts should have taken a number of simple legal steps. The court could have chosen three sepharadi men to judge Katzav. The court could explain why A was not prosecuted for blackmail. The court could publish the AGs letter doubting the veracity of A's testimony and explain why they chose to ignore it.
14. he is not religious
Rabbi Creditor ,   San Francisco, CA   (01.04.11)
I am offended by Katsav's crime. He should be in jail, and the woman he assaulted has every right to her privacy but is a hero to everyone. I am also offended by the notion that he is a religious Jew. He is not. And any rabbi who remains silent is misrepresenting our tradition.
15. so now we're judging people on something they DON'T do?
(01.04.11)
16. Why is he just a rapist?
Ariel ,   Jerusalel, Israel   (01.04.11)
Somebody wrote: 'Unlike the "experts" who say the conviction of ex-Pres. Katsav was a "victory" for Israeli justice, I actually looked at the notes from his trial. It is what is missing that stands out: There are no rape kits. There is no semen or DNA proof. There are no professionals like doctors or police sex crimes experts. There are no rape victims testifying in open court. Those prosecution witnesses testifying in closed court are not identified. There is no physical evidence such as Katsav's hair or clothing. There was no lie detector test of Katsav. No victim went to the police after being raped. The police opened an investigation years after the alleged crimes allegedly took place.' Basic on ‘what’ he is ‘rapist’?
17. Katsav
Michaelpielet ,   boca,usa   (01.04.11)
This article was written by an obvious Israeli heloni antisemite. Yes, there was a rape, Katsav was raped by the israel media and judicial system. There is not one scintilla of evidence corroborating that a rape ever occurred. One persons word against another. Why did the so called victim wait nine years to come forward. Why is the accusor anonymous. This is a sad day for the Israeli justice system. There is no justice in Israel.
18. Feminized Societies
Larry ,   US   (01.04.11)
It becomes ever clearer that modern Western societies (to which roster Israel belongs, for better and worse) are feminized. Any accusation in the legal system made by a woman against a man is nearly sacrosanct. Prosecutors at different levels reap political and career benefits from building cases in this area (domestic violence, rape). In Katsav's case, there is no proof that he actually committed rape, although it appears that he may have coerced sex. This is not the same as rape, as each of these women (if this was the scenario) could have abandoned their jobs: a harsh choice, but a choice nonetheless. According to someone I know, Ezer Weizmann's limo killed a pedestrian in Ramat HaSharon years ago. If so, it was buried immediately. The rule of law is loosely applied in many cases, in many places. In Israel's case, it's clear that 'democracy' is close to orthodox enforcement of these politically correct norms - feminism, liberalism. These mix with the desire to retain power and the fear and contempt for right wingers, religious people and Mizrachiim. Of course, it is entirely possible that Katzav committed rape, but if the 'proof' is this judge panel and witnesses such as Yehimovitch, we will never know.
19. To #11 Michael Davison
Alef ( 1970)   (01.04.11)
At last someone who understand. Many years ago I came to the emergency ward of a hospital in center Israel with my father who was very sick. The "menahel miyoun" told me that my Dad had nothing to do in an hospital and I should take him to an hospice - and then he told me to come back the next day. When I came back my father was not in the Emergency ward anymore but in a nice room with another patient and taken good care of. When I went to thank the doctor, he told me that he was willing to keep my father for as long as it would take to heal him but since I was very beautiful and very nice, he hoped that we would become very good friend. I became a very "close" friend until I could not take it anymore and decide to stop the friendship.......... Guess what, my father was an outpatient the next day, went to another institution where he died a few days later. The doctor had the nerve to come to the "shiva" and was terribly upset when I refused to shake his hand. So you are right "rape" is not always under violence and threats............
20. The Uncertainty Principle of #16
Michael ,   California, USA   (01.04.11)
Judges did the best they could based on preponderance of evidence. Could you do better? Will something better come up in an appeal? There is no such thing as absolute truth, we all know that. So, do your reading, listening, talking, and continue to doubt everything. For instance I doubt you are sincere and you may actually be someone else impersonating #16. Cheers.
21. Religious Jews know better than to shun him
Sam   (01.04.11)
because THE TORAH SAYS SO. There's no proof and no witnesses to these (perhaps) fabricated stories where women might have accused them when they were fired. We all know of many such stories where people were framed. The fact is that these non-Torah judges in Israel have destroyed many innocent people.
22. to #20
Ariel ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (01.04.11)
If he is guilty or not the judgment is wrong. Come and live in Israel than you understand. There is even so much sun as in California, Ariel
23. A little feminine perspective on office romance in general.
Marcella   (01.04.11)
The workplace can be a soul-crushing experience, even in places with the highest standards. The cream rises to the top, and so does the scum. You get the boss that you get, and that's that. But no matter how dire the circumstances, WESTERN SOCIETY generally allows women to make moral choices. This is especially true for independent, educated women. Nine out of ten married men give signs that they are ready to cheat if given the opportunity (yes, it's true), and many actively look for that opportunity at work. The single ones think it's their right. Women know all that. That's why it's important to keep a formal distance from office Romeos, particularly those in authority. Most men - unless they are outright psychopaths - will get the message. If a woman flirts, or is passive when a guy makes unwanted advances, she's headed for trouble either in her personal or work life. Or both. Women who want to have fun, or who think that an affair with a man in power can bring them benefits and even prestige - or women who simply make the wrong moral choice - have no right to cry "sexual assault" when the relationship was consensual. Most women are strong and don't need being condenscended to by being regarded as incapable of making a moral decision, of demanding respect from their boss, or from walking out if feeling threatened or humiliated. I'M NOT SAYING this is always the case, because there are some very emotionally vulnerable girls out there, and cases when they may be too overwhelmed to think things through. But for the majority, it is. *************** There is also a very nasty side to romance when women use the experience to blackmail the man or to take revenge on him. A guy's career and even his life can be demolished by a false accusation of rape. It happens all the time.
24. katsav
Michael Pielet ,   boca,usa   (01.04.11)
This is a sad day for Israeli society. Hatred of Jews, anti semitism, is an irrational emotion, virus, that can never be totally destroyed. Israeli cheloni hatred of religious Jews is also irrational and can never be destroyed. The crimes that the Israeli media, judiciary and society committed against Katswav are just as hateful and irrational as the anti semites hatred of the Jew. #19 sad story but what is the connection with Katsav. #19 if you believe in justice for all check the record and then demand a new trial for Katsav and that his accusors are publicly revealed and there be a public trial and not a kangaroo court.
25. More irony to your irony
Nora Tel Aviv   (01.04.11)
Now, suppose a woman is raped. What does she do ? She phones to her raper and says: -Moshe , you know how difficult it is for me.I think that you should paye me $ 200.000 , no less. She is phoning not the polce, but her raper. She is adressing him gently with his first name (Moshe). Than, very gently, she is blackmailing him($200.000). Then she continues saing (By pure coincidence) that she has the tapes of the act. And that once the money is transfered to her, she will be ready to dispose (!) of the tapes. Now, dear readers, what would you call such a woman ?
26. rapists
das ,   israel   (01.05.11)
there's is another well known one walking around israel. he's a member of the MFA....................not the first time that he has been caught. maybe now he will also go to jail........people at a certain level think they are above it all but they really are SICK. Lieberman - let's see how you act in this case. he's one of yours..........member of your party or not - he is from your ministry and does belong back in thailand but behind bars here.
27. Indeed!
Mike Carmel ,   Rishon le Zion   (01.05.11)
Indeed we won't be hearing anything at all about this subject from the mumbling old codger in the fancy gown which just proves what side of the fence they are all on.
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