Katsav. Will attend
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Gal-On. Oust
Photo: Salva Greenberg
Tamir. Resign
Photo: Uriel Hershko
Top legal source: Katsav must suspend himself
Recommendation to charge president with rape sparks row in political arena. Meretz MK plans to ask Knesset's House Committee to launch ousting procedure. Minister Tamir calls on Katsav to resign
A senior legal source said Sunday evening that "President Moshe Katsav should suspend himself from office." The source was referring to the police's recommendation
to charge Katsav with offenses of rape, indecent assault, fraud and wire-tapping.
On Sunday, the police investigators submitted the complete investigation file to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and State Prosecutor Eran Shendar.
Other Side
President's associates maintain atmosphere of 'business as usual', make it clear Katsav will attend opening of Knesset's winter session Monday. President's attorney says he is concerned over police's conduct
According to the police, there is evidence that the president committed sex offenses against several women, and raped at least two of the complainants.
The recommendations sparked a row in the political arena, particularly in light of the fact that Katsav plans to attend the opening of the Knesset's winter session Monday.
Some Knesset members plan to protest. Several Labor, Likud and Kadima MKs plan not to act according to protocol and not to stand up when the president enters the plenum. Others will be absent.
'This is the end of the line'
MK Zahava Gal-On, chairman of the Meretz faction, said that following the police's severe recommendations she plans to appeal to members of the Knesset's House Committee and ask them to immediately launch an ousting procedure against the president.MK Gal-on plans to remain in the plenum, but will not stand up when the president enters. The rest of her faction members plan to enter the hall only after the president.
Education Minister Yuli Tamir called on the president to resign. Tamir called on Katsav not to arrive at the Knesset on Monday.
"This is the end of the line before President Katsav must act," she said.
The Knesset Guard is also preparing for the president's arrival, for fear that women rights organizations will attempt to carry out a provocation.
MK Colette Avital (Labor) said that she expects the president to resign and that "if he doesn’t resign, he should at least suspend himself."
She expressed her hope that "the president would spare the Knesset from the embarrassment when he arrives tomorrow." She added, however, that she would not boycott the meeting out of respect to the presidential institute.
Ronny Sofer and Aviram Zino contributed to the report
