Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., April 09, 2008 Nisan 4, 5768 | | Israel Time: 17:49 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Demonstrators in Jerusalem. The signs read: 'You are not alone.' (Tess Scheflan / Jini) Last update - 07:23 09/04/2008 Protesters jeer Katsav, cheer the chance to take him to court By Jonathan Lis, Ruth Sinai and Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: indictment, Katsav  A chorus of boos greeted former president Moshe Katsav on Tuesday as he entered a Jerusalem courthouse, where dozens of demonstrators voiced their disapproval of the plea bargain struck with the State Prosecutor's Office last June. Women from the Israel Women's Network and other organizations that work to combat sexual violence against women wore shirts bearing the words, "We are all A.," referring to the initial by which several of Katsav's accusers are known. Their boos quickly turned to cheers as news of the rejection of the plea bargain made its way from the courtroom to outside the courthouse. "Katsav, Katsav, to prison now!," demonstrators chanted as the former president left the courtroom. He is facing a string of complaints for sexual assault. Advertisement Women's organizations welcomed Katsav's decision to waive the plea bargain and demanded a harsh indictment reflected in the original charge sheet prepared by the state. "For nearly a year, since Katsav sought to sign the plea bargain, he and his lawyers have mocked the Israeli public and especially the attorney general," the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel said in a statement. "During this time the victims have suffered an unnecessary delay of justice. We expect the original indictment to be served, not the reduced indictment on which the plea bargain was based." The director of WIZO's Department for the Advancement of the Status of Women, Ronit Ehrenfreund, also said that her organization demands that Katsav be dealt with harshly and that the rape charges be restored to the indictment. "The more I think about it, the more it looks like sorry, dishonorable tricks," said the head of the Israel Women's Network, Rina Bar-Tal. "Katsav's attorneys could have announced it to the High Court but they wanted to play for time. From the perspective of the women's organizations, it's a happy day because now it can be told from the witness stand what that man did to so many women throughout his public history." Na'at chair Tali Livneh said she had figured from the beginning that there was no place for a plea bargain in the case. "I praise Katsav's decision to fight for his innocence. The state deserves to have a proper trial," she said. "I'm not happy about anything connected to this move," added attorney Ifat Matzner, who appealed the High Court of Justice against the plea bargain about two weeks ago. "From the outset we wanted to cancel the plea bargain. There is definitely a chance that a genuine trial will be conducted now and that the court will decide the way we wanted." MK Orit Noked (Labor) likened Katsav's behavior to "spitting in the face of the judicial system and the State Prosecutor's Office." Likud MK Limor Livnat said that Attorney General Menachem Mazuz's decision to sign the plea bargain with Katsav was "inappropriate from the start, and it's a pity he didn't accede to the Supreme Court president's demand to cancel it." According to Livnat, "It is right and proper to have a public trial of the Katsav affair." Related articles: Prosecution: Katsav may be charged with rape Katsav accuser: President turned me into sex slave Source: High Court shouldn't cancel Katsav plea bargain Bookmark to del.icio.us   Falk's folly Israel will refuse entry to the UN's Richard Falk for equating Israel to Nazi Germany. Peace when? After 30 years, the public has adopted Peace Now's views, but peace is still elusive.   1.   the circus is going on 06:37  |  alex 09/04/08   2.   Mazuz clearly is incompetent and should go 09:24  |  Clickfool 09/04/08   3.   Clickfool #2 Correct Clickie, and how! 13:11  |  S 09/04/08   4.   This dude should be jailed, so should a few more. 13:58  |  Stephen. 09/04/08   5.   Great publicity for israel 16:32  |  Les patterson 09/04/08

Today Online Israel to deny UN official entry for comparing country to Nazis Responses: 259 Rosner's Guest: Enough with occupation guilt, Gaza is not Auschwitz Responses: 51 State Prosecutor: New Katsav indictment may include rape Responses: 16 Alexander Yakobson: Israel is most successful integration of modern times Responses: 17 IDF begins collecting weapons from West Bank settlements Responses: 32 Rosner's Domain Obama: No US pressure on Israel to accomodate Palestinians (WTR) Shut Up, I'm Talking! a dialogue Guest: Who's going to take down Iran? Pastor Hagee vs. rabbi Yoffie, round two Poll: Yoffie or Hagee - you can vote! More Headlines 17:47 2 Israeli civilians killed in attack by Gaza infiltrators 17:33 Israel: Hamas responsible for attack, will be held accountable 17:11 IDF soldier killed, two wounded in southern Gaza Strip 14:10 J'lem police lower alert over suspected terrorist infiltration 07:32 U.S. wants to hold summit at Sharm during Bush visit 14:41 Murdoch, Blair, Gorbachev to attend Israel's 60th celebrations 11:54 ADL unleashes ads condemning Swiss energy deal with Iran 10:50 Jewish American authors to attend Jerusalem writers festival 16:18 Judge allows Mosley Nazi role-playing orgy video to go on Web 10:51 IDF begins collecting weapons from West Bank settlements 14:39 BoI: Trade balance to dip in 2008, turn from surplus to deficit 08:23 State Prosecutor: New Katsav indictment may include rape 13:49 Israel to deny UN official entry for comparing Israel to Nazis 10:59 80-year-old Smadar Cinema projects special image of Jerusalem Previous Editions Select Day 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar

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