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Last update - 22:55 01/07/2007 The state was saved from an indecent act By Shahar Ilan Tags: Israel, sanctions, Gaza Strip  . If the complainants truly had been trampled by the state, their testimony would have been whitewashed and the president would have emerged blameless, and it could be said the decision is a disgrace. But the plea bargain creates a proper and very worthy balance between punishing the president and conveying the message that he must pay for his actions, versus preserving the dignity of the state. The state's interest was on the way to being entirely subordinated to that of individuals, and Mazuz prevented this. The public good has been trampled time and again in recent years, but this time, Mazuz prevented it. What exactly are Mazuz's critics afraid of? That Katsav was not sufficiently humiliated? That the person who considered himself a leader of the Jewish people, a founder of the Jewish House of Lords, a revolutionary changing the system of government in Israel, would only be ostracized and denounced, but not jailed? That, on the basis of his admission, he would be convicted only as a sex offender and not as a rapist? Does the cup of vengeance really need to be filled to the brim, or is 70 percent enough? Advertisement What Mazuz remembered, and what his critics disregarded, is that for the past seven years, Katsav's picture hung behind every senior government official. Katsav represented us in the world, consoled those in need, encouraged, mediated, reconciled and, primarily, served as a symbol. Mazuz understood that if Katsav were now to face a multi-year trial for sex offenses, this would constitute an indecent act against the entire state, and that if the president were to be jailed for sex offenses, it would constitute punishment for the entire state. One could argue that a state whose parliament voted for this president is definitely deserving of punishment, but it seems we already have suffered enough. It is now time for all of us to forget about this man. Is it only the attorney general who is endowed with such a clear, logical and simple view? Or does he have a great many supporters who prefer to remain silent? Only six Knesset members, a particularly small number, released announcements to parliamentary correspondents Thursday. Almost all of them argued that the decision was a disgrace and demanded that the full extent of the law be brought to bear against the president or the state prosecution (preferably both). Not a single reaction expressed support for the attorney general. It is interesting what the rest of the MKs think. Could it be that most of them believe the attorney general displayed considerable courage, but that they lack similar courage? Could it be that other MKs think the decision is an unavoidable necessity? The line of thought that guided the attorney general would also behoove the state regarding another painful matter that pits the good of the state against that of individuals - the Shalit deal. Just as A.'s pain is too heavy to bear, the pain of the Shalit family is terrible. But the role of the decision makers is to see the state's interest too, which includes that of past and future terror victims, and future kidnapping victims. This means Olmert must stick to his commitment and not release terrorists responsible for mass attacks. Will Olmert, like Mazuz, stand up to the test? Bookmark to del.icio.us   Power to the people Egypt plans to provide all of Gaza's electricity, to wean dependency on Israel. Calculated escalation Hamas has been trying for some time to create a balance of deterrence with Israel.   1.   I agree: the AG placed his own rep on the line 10:35  |  Yonatan 01/07/07   2.   State vs. the individual 10:44  |  Gabe 01/07/07   3.   An imbecilic Haaretz contributor 10:44  |  Clickfool 01/07/07   4.   Correct Decision 11:05  |  Joseph 01/07/07   5.   who needs courts ? 11:26  |  Michael 01/07/07   6.   AN Imbecillic CFOOL not familiar with the LEGAL minutae 11:27  |  PETER.SM 01/07/07   7.   No more presidential rapists 11:33  |  Big Al 01/07/07   8.   To Clickfool 11:37  |  Big Al 01/07/07   9.   Correct Decision??????? 11:38  |  mb 01/07/07   10.   Katsav 12:55  |  sweis Melbourne 01/07/07   11.   No more rapist as president 13:03  |  New Israeli 01/07/07   12.   DOES THE NAME RICCCHARD NIXON OR BILL CLINTON RING BELLS 13:03  |  paul harris 01/07/07   13.   Clickfool - For once we are completely in agreement 13:05  |  WWACD 01/07/07   14.   The State was saved from an indecent act 13:53  |  Sarah 01/07/07   15.   Weak Arguments.. 14:19  |  Boozaglow 01/07/07   16.   Ladies: Carry Garden Clippers in Your Bag 14:45  |  Beatrice 01/07/07   17.   EXCHANGE KATSAV FOR SHALIT!!! 14:57  |  zebulonguy 01/07/07   18.   clickfool - i agree with you as well 15:09  |  michael 01/07/07   19.   MAZUZ KNEW A LIED ALL THE WAY,HAD TO DIG UP OLD WOMEN TO TRUMP UP 18:02  |  POLITICIANS STINK))) 01/07/07   20.   The state was saved from an indecent act? 21:57  |  James 01/07/07   21.   Shahar Ilan`s view 00:17  |  Deborah Nothmann 02/07/07   22.   ...is 70 percent enough? 01:25  |  Asylum Aleikum 02/07/07   23.   The decision itself was the indecent act 01:57  |  Jon 02/07/07   24.   public interest? 03:29  |  Michael 02/07/07   25.   look around - the damage is in NOT trying him 06:40  |  Bruno 02/07/07   26.   Katsav must receive full measure of justice 07:08  |  Tommy Devlin 02/07/07   27.   What? Katsav getting off the hook is much more damaging to Israel 07:22  |  jonbirion 02/07/07   28.   WE HAVE SUFFERED A LOT AND I AM 08:36  |  Robert 02/07/07   29.   Shahar ilan`s comment 08:42  |  Chaia 02/07/07   30.   The link to this from fresher stories 09:24  |  Clickfool 02/07/07   31.   A State in Disgrace. 10:03  |  Dolly 02/07/07   32.   Light onto the Nations - missed opportunity 10:23  |  Daniel W 02/07/07   33.   The office of the presidency 10:38  |  Rickie Shachar 02/07/07   34.   Disgusted 11:13  |  Israeliman 02/07/07   35.   State has no interest in rapist 11:44  |  shlomo 02/07/07   36.   To Bruno # 25 12:15  |  Dagma 02/07/07   37.   Dear Dear, Dolly in Disgrace. 12:46  |  Emma 02/07/07   38.   The State was saved from an indecent act 14:50  |  Edward Stern 02/07/07   39.   Shar Ilan`s satire 15:07  |  Avi friend of Bruria 02/07/07   40.   a difficult one 21:37  |  Ernst 02/07/07   41.   Utter nonsense 22:22  |  Josh Goldman 02/07/07   42.   petition of principle for corruption 01:30  |  diego 03/07/07   43.   Will Bush also pardon Katsav 10:35  |  Avi 03/07/07   44.   justice for Katzav, and for his victims 16:34  |  michael cohen 06/07/07   45.   # 16 Beatrice LOL Or a swift 15:24  |  petra 28/02/08   46.   # 3 Click I`m amazed at your clarity 15:27  |  petra 28/02/08

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