Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., November 19, 2007 Kislev 9, 5768 | | Israel Time: 13:30 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Easy Start Magazine Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Week's End Books

Former president Moshe Katsav. (Itzik Ben-Malki) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 08:36 18/11/2007 Source: High Court shouldn't cancel Katsav plea bargain By Yuval Yoaz Tags: Israel, Menachem Mazuz  It would be disastrous for the High Court of Justice to intervene in the plea bargain with former president Moshe Katsav, a senior judicial source intimately familiar with the case says. If the plea agreement is canceled, the source explained, no lower court would be able to adjudicate the case impartially, in view of the comments made by Supreme Court justices and prejudicial reports in the media, including a key complainant's televised recounting "of stories never mentioned in the interrogation room." A Advertisement nother obstacle would be the fact that the state told the High Court that this was a borderline case from an evidentiary standpoint. The source added that the Justice Ministry had decided to conduct a "hard-hitting review" of the way the Katsav case was handled, and one of the questions to be considered is whether the State Prosecutor's Office or Attorney General Menachem Mazuz could have acted otherwise. However, this probe will begin only after the High Court rules on several petitions to nullify the plea agreement. As for the gag order regarding evidence in the Katsav case, the source said it was clearly in the state's interest to have the material released, so the public would understand why it would not have been easy to bring this case to trial. The senior judicial official addressed several other issues: -On Moshe Lador's appointment as state prosecutor, he said that by the time the cabinet meets next week to confirm the appointment, all five of the ministers under police investigation - Ehud Olmert, Ruhama Avraham, Avigdor Lieberman, Shalom Simhon and Jacob Edrey - are expected to announce they will absent themselves from the meeting. The source added that Attorney General Mazuz had recommended Lador to the search committee, and that "Lador is an excellent jurist, one of a dying breed that is an expert in both criminal and civil law." -On investigations against Olmert, the source said that the latest allegations regarding bribes Olmert allegedly took while competing in a primary election "are not serious" and do not warrant opening a criminal investigation. As for ongoing investigations, the case relating to Olmert's tenure at the Industry, Trade and Employment Ministry is "massive, made up of thousands of small details, and all the material has to be sifted through like searching for gold," the source said. By contrast, the source said, in the affair involving Olmert's purchase of a home on Cremieux Street in Jerusalem, "a single detail could make the whole case." -On reducing electricity to the Gaza Strip, the source said the army was ordered to issue a week's notice before limiting supply. He said the army did not present an orderly plan at the first meeting on the matter at the Justice Ministry, but merely expressed a desire "to pull the plug" on Gaza. The ministry said that would constitute an act of collective punishment, which is forbidden under international law, and that electricity to Gaza can only be reduced. Since some power lines from Israel to the Strip are already outfitted with current controls, an order was issued to install current controls on the remaining lines. -On tensions between Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch and Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann, the source said these are impacting the ministry's work, particularly in its legislation department. Sometimes staffers disagree with Friedmann's initiatives, and tell him so, the source said, but "so long as legitimate measures are involved, we provide full service." He added that a large share of the bills that appear differ from the drafts Friedmann wanted. -On restricting the High Court's constitutional jurisdiction, the source said that the Justice Ministry prefers to include in the Basic Law on Legislation a component of judicial oversight by the Supreme Court. However, "you cannot deal with this matter in segments, and even passing the Basic Law on Legislation is a partial act compared to the need to legislate the entire constitution. What Friedmann did is take a patchwork approach, which resolves some problems abut creates many others." Related articles: * Alleged rape victim: 'Katsav is a pervert, serial sex offender' * Katsav's lawyers: Plea bargain proves president was right all along * Police sources flabbergasted by plea bargain for Katsav * MKs seek to revoke Katsav's pension perks * Legal analysis / An unreasonable decision * Mazuz's decision / Why indict Ramon and not Katsav? Bookmark to del.icio.us MTV generation MTV launches new channel in effort to draw Arab viewers. Not settling for less PA to U.S.: We demand a complete settlement freeze.   1.   A JEWISH STATE MUST BE BASED ON HALACHA,NOT POLITICAL AMBITIONS)) 06:47  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 18/11/07   2.   Scot-free, alas... 10:08  |  Esther 18/11/07   3.   Credibility? 10:38  |  Joseph 18/11/07   4.   REPLY #1 ITS THE BLUE PILL DEAR 13:07  |  VOICE OF REALITY 19/11/07

Today Online Shmuel Rosner: Anti-Israel attitudes on U.S. campuses Responses: 22 Yossi Beilin: Better to skip Annapolis meet than go there like this Responses: 38 Gazan dies of cancer after refused entry into Israel Responses: 111 Cabinet set to free 400 jailed Palestinians ahead of summit Responses: 19 PM, Barak hint at desire to renew talks with Syria Responses: 17 Poll: Most Americans still strong supporters of Israel Responses: 37 Rosner's Domain New Guest: On anti-Israel attitudes on contemporary campuses Immediate projects needed to bolster Abbas (WTR) Poll: Should Israel "get used" to the Iranian bomb? The Democrats and Iran: Best and worst lines (Factor) More Headlines 13:19 PM Olmert declares freeze on West Bank settlements 12:29 PM, Mubarak to meet in Sharm al-Sheikh Tuesday for surprise talks 10:25 Cabinet likely to approve release of 450 jailed Palestinians ahead of summit 07:42 Olmert and Barak hint at desire to renew negotiations with Syria 08:12 Germany rejects request to reopen talks on reparations deal 07:13 Gazan dies of cancer after being refused entrance into Israel 10:50 Survey: Majority of Americans are still strong supporters of Israel 11:35 Blair set to reveal projects for boosting Palestinian employment 10:20 8 percent of new IDF recruits have a criminal record Previous Editions Select Day 18 nov 16 nov 15 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 09 nov 08 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov

Special Offers Advertisement HELP SAVE OMRI! Ezer Mizion's Bone Marrow Recruitment Drive Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. JOIN FREE AT JDATE.COM The most popular online Jewish dating community in the world! Explore the possibilities! Click Here! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt. Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved