President Katsav with wife Gila in the sukkah
Photo: Haim Tzach
Protesters rally outside Katsav's Sukkot event
Thousands visit sukkah at President’s Residence in Jerusalem as Association of Rape Crisis Centers holds rally calling for Katsav’s suspension; ‘We certainly respect the visitors’ decision to come here, but we are here to remind them of the suspicions against the president,’ protester says
In the midst of the sexual harassment investigation conducted against President Moshe Katsav, thousands of people from all across the country visited the sukkah set up at his official residence in Jerusalem.
Yehezkel and Nurit Shmueli decided to stop by the sukkah during their short vacation in the capital.
“As long as Katsav has not been convicted, he is innocent in my eyes and can continue serving as president,” Yehezkel said. “However, there is a cloud hovering over this house; the affair does not add dignity to the presidency.”
“There is a garden here with sculptures of past presidents – there has never been a situation like this before; this hurts the halo that is supposed to surround the president’s residence,” Yehezkel added.
Katsav greets visitors at his Jerusalem residence (Photo: Haim Tzach)
As Katsav was greeting the thousands of visitors, the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel held a demonstration opposite his residence and called for the president to suspend himself.
“The president is supposed to represent all of us,” one demonstrator said. “It’s a bit embarrassing that a man who is being investigated opens his door to the citizens of the state. We certainly respect the visitors’ decision to come here, but we are here to remind them of the suspicions against the president.”
Labor-Meimad Knesset members Yoram Marciano and Shelly Yacimovich said Katzav’s public invitation to his sukkah was completely disrespectful of the public, in light of the fact that he is suspected of committing sexual offences against nine different women.
“The president insists on dragging Israel’s citizens into the criminal process he is caught in. It would be better to opt for the protest being held by the Association of Rape Crisis Centers outside his residence,” they said in a statement.
A Jewish couple from London said they were happy to attend the event at the President’s residence.
“He is a very nice man, and we believe he is not guilty,” the husband said. “In London there is a saying ‘a man is innocent until proven guilty.’”
In the coming days Israel Police is expected to recommend that Katsav be indicted, a move that will force the president to consider suspending himself temporarily until the conclusion of the legal proceedings.
Ynet recently reported that in case of an indictment, 53 Knesset members would support Katsav’s dismissal.
