Attorney General Menachem Mazuz yesterday slammed the elements behind the media campaign criticizing his decision to bring criminal charges against former justice minister Haim Ramon. Mazuz, speaking before the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, did not name names but apparently was referring to jurists (such as Prof. Amnon Rubinstein) and journalists (such as former justice minister Yosef "Tommy" Lapid.

The attorney general said the media campaign had caused serious damage to Israeli society and turned the clock backward by many years.

Mazuz expressed concern that as a result of the media campaign, women suffering sexual harassment would be reluctant to lodge complaints, precisely at a time when they should be encouraged to do so.

	Advertisement

Mazuz also lambasted the Knesset's decision to establish a parliamentary inquiry committee into wiretapping, in the wake of developments related to the Ramon case. "I fail to understand why the Knesset saw the need to rush into establishing a parliamentary committee of inquiry; it's not clear to me against whom this decision is intended." Mazuz stressed that the Knesset Constitution Committee has the authority to monitor and supervise police intercepts, and thus a new committee is superfluous.

Mazuz said that covert listening is a very important investigative tool, although he is aware that it entails a violation of individual rights and thus its use requires restraint and supervision.

Committee chairman MK Menahem Ben-Sasson (Kadima) expressed surprise at Mazuz's comments. "I took this step because I was left with no choice after the ministries of justice and public security as well as the State Comptroller's Office rejected my request for an examination of the issue. It is the duty of the Knesset, and my duty as the one in charge of supervising intercepts, to examine the guidelines of intercepts
that have failed," Ben-Sasson said.

Mazuz said that within a few weeks he will issue his decision regarding criminal charges against President Moshe Katsav. In response to a question, he said that the arrangement, according to which Katsav will suspend himself immediately if and when the decision is made to indict him, and resign as soon as charges are filed, is fair and satisfactory.
Mazuz rejected charges that justice moved too slowly on the Katsav case.

"Its handling was not only not slow, it was very fast. We are making every effort to accelerate handling of the case. There is public interest in finishing the handling of this case as quickly as possible," the attorney general said.