Former President Moshe Katsav gets 7 years in jail for rape
Katsav also receives two years probation and is ordered to pay NIS 125,000 compensation to his victims; judges: No man is above the law.
By Ofra Edelman Tags: Israel newsFormer President of the State of Israel Moshe Katsav was sentenced to seven years in jail Tuesday, for after he had previously been found guilty of rape and other sexual offenses.
The court also ruled that Katsav must also serve two years of probation and pay NIS 100,000 to his rape victim, a former employee of the Tourism Ministry known as A., and to pay NIS 25,000 to L., a former employee of the President's Residence, whom he had sexually harrased and abused.
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Former President Moshe Katsav leaves Tel Aviv District Court on March 22, 2011, after he was sentenced to seven years in jail for rape. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
Katsav will begin serving his sentence on May 8, 2011.
In December, the Tel Aviv District Court judges, George Karra, Judith Shevach and Miriam Sokolov, handed down a unanimous verdict on Katsav's case after complaints had surfaced of sexual offenses against various subordinates during Katsav’s terms as tourism minister and president.
"On December 30, 2010, the defendant was convicted of committing serious sexual offenses against women who were subordinate to him," the judges ruled in a majority opinion.
"The crime of rape damages and destroys a person's soul… Due to the severity of the crime, the punishment must be clear and precise," the judges said.
"The defendant committed the crime and like every other person, he must bear the consequences. No man is above the law."
"The contention that seeing a former president of the country go to jail is too painful to watch is an emotional argument, but it definitely cannot be accepted as an ethical argument."
A. from the Tourism Ministry, the main complainant in the case against Katsav, expressed satisfaction at the judges' sentence.
"Even though this is not a happy day for me, I definitely feel fulfilled and satisfied with the sentence - which fits the grave acts that were outlined in the court ruling," said A..
A. added that she did not put an "extreme importance" on the sentencing, saying she cared most about the court ruling in December which showed that the court believed her and did her justice.
"I would like to return to my life, my family and my anonymity. I am happy that this sad affair is nearing its end."
The former president and Likud minister was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting A. - a former employee of the Tourism Ministry while he was minister. He was also found guilty of sexually harassing H., of sexually abusing and harassing L. from the President’s Residence and obstruction of justice.
The year-long trial took place almost entirely behind closed doors and left the public wondering whether the 65-year-old Katsav was wise to drop out of a plea bargain two years ago.
The plea deal meant Katsav would not face the most serious charges and promised him a suspended sentence at worse, but the former president decided to prove his innocence in court.
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Are you incapable of making a point where it is supposed to be made - in the comment box? Do you understand the difference between subject and comment?
for all Israelis. Regardless of rank, religion, or wealth, commit the crime and a jail cell is available. Now, let's go after the treasonous members of Balad Meretz and Hadash
there is hope that the judicial systems in Israel works. In many countries he would get away with it.
should we give so much attention to a weasel of a man like Katzav? Just because he was the president? Lock him up, throw away the key and hope that history forgets him asap
YOU ARE VENOM EZR WITZMAN WAS NOT MIZRACHI BUT WAS VERY CORRUPT AND CAN GIVE LONG LIST OF KIND
but because there was a close to 50 years oppostion to the candidacy of the Ashkenazy Shimon Peres. Peres did a wonderfull service to Israel as the negotiator with European countries for weapons and technologies. He was on the ground dealer with french defence politicians and contractors. Shimon Peres negotiated the purchases of Mysters, Vautour, Supermysters and Mirage jets for IAF. Peres was driving Force and negotiated the french Nuclear technoly for Dimona. Peres launched the civilian electronic industries starting with Tadira. BUT PERES WAS PERCEIVED AS BenGurions Hit man and not a fair nor trusted politicians. He was a Shimale the intrigue maker. Rabin Did not trust Shimon, Likud dispaiced Shimon. In fact Shimon Peres never won outright were running against any other political opposition leader. Shimon didnot even beat the neophite Likud Leader Shamir. It was a draw and they split the PM term. Shimon lost the election to Natanyhu after Rabins assasination. Shimon run for Presidency(Knesset Eelcts theppresidents) and lost to the Katzav who wasn't a political power house. Likud nknew that even Katzav would defeat Peres. The only reason Peres finaly got elected as President was because Hequit Labour after defeat by Amir Peretz. Peres true to his reputation as a schemer joint Kadima and made a deal with Ehud Olmert for support of his candidacy for President. At that time Katzav was already investigated.for corruption and sexual escapades. Olmert himself was also subject to police investigation. Olemrt needed Peres support so Kadima voted en masse for Peres. I amphasize again, Peres DID marvelous service as thefather of Israeli industry, Dimona and purchases of arms. He never profited personaly from the deals. But being pereceived as B-G foot soldier along with Moshe Dayan and an intrigue master Peres was handicapped in running for PM or Presidency. Good Israeli, a patriot, at the end a political looser. Good men not alwasy finish firts
First time in Israel that a man is guilty with no evidence and accused by an anonymous victim. The difference between Katsav and Olmert ? Ashkenazi nomenclatura against sepharads.
- surely that s proof that his ethnic background - which you are so keen to stress- didn't hinder him at all ...
she has testified in court in person, not anonimously.
Yes or No ?
They should have the political wing in prisons. Make a show about that one.
I think the sentence approved the transperancy in the Judicial system. I hope the next trial will be for Mr.Netanyahu and Lieberman because they are against achieving peace for the Israelis and Palestinians.So any life losses in both sides will be thier faults
What occupation? And what does this have anything to do with occupation? Katzav is religious man who commited a sin, a crime. The 10 commandments were given to religious people in the desert at Mt Sinai. "Do not commit adultery" was said to people who witnessed the giving of the Torah.
Just because a person is religious does not mean they have no faults. You are showing your bias against Israel or the Israeli people with your comment ".....were given to religious people..." Not all were religious and if you know the story of what happened you will know that the people sinned with their sculpting of idols while awaiting Moses to return. But even more glaring is the pedophilia problem of the Catholic Church which purports 24/7 to act religiously while turning their eyes away from the priests ruining thousands of children's lives for decades if not centuries. So Daren which is the Catholic "occupation" which brought out this deviant behaviour in priests.
Can someone explain to me why Olmert is still free and not in jail? Or is it because he has more money to drag the legal system for years? Or perhaps there is another reason: Katzav is a religious man and Olmert is not............... The judges in Israel are very much anti-religious people, therefore they have a bias in favor of Olmert and against Katzav
then it shows that the foundations of Israel are crumbling under the weight of the occupation
if and when Olmeret is convicted of his crime, I hope that the fullest extent of the law is dropped on him. However its silly and childish to compare the two and assume it has to do something with religion, as their crimes are different.
so we are bound by the law of the land to assume he practices the cult of priapus and worships phallus.put simply- "religious" jews don't rape on the public's time and expense.as far as i know truly "religious" men from dervishes to shamans to dons and deans,abstain from rape.nor do they stash cash in off shore banks.
superb example of enforcing the law even in high political ranks
Have no actual position. They don't actually do anything. So it's pretty hard to measure whether a president was good or bad. They're just there.
If the supreme court wont stop this sentence, then I assume that soon he will be declared unfit to be kept in prison, the public was served then, and he gets away, as usual for criminal Israeli politicians...
7 years? not nearly enough. He will probably sit 3-4, and get out on good behaviour after that. Also, whats this BS about delaying his sentence by 45 days? This is a convicted rapist. He shouldve been put in jail the day he was convicted, and now moved to prison after his sentence. Just because he is an ex-president, shouldnt mean he gets any special conditions, in fact, he should be made into an example for all.
that Israeli justice punishes someone guilty.
There is no such thing as doing one's time for a victim of serious sexual harassment and/or rape. It has nothing to do with "normal" sex within a loving relationship but is all about power, deliberate humiliation and psychological destruction of another human being. It forever changes one's life and normally takes several years, great determination, loving support and considerable therapy to be able to move on and to be able to have a normal relationship with a spouse. Some people never get over it. The damage is far far far greater than you can every imagine unless you have been through it yourself.
I am from Spain and I wish we had a justice like the one this sentence has demonstrated that exists in Israel. If a similar situation would have been present in many other countries a person with such power, and in particular if he is a politician, would have never been brought to justice not to say sentence to jail. From my point of view congratulations and thanks for the example of justice given with this process.
including Israëli minorities and occupied territories residents submitted to Israëli law ? Unusual.
He should have gotten a much longer sentence. Not only is rape a horrible crime that society cannot tolerate, but the President of all people should be setting an example for moral, ethical behavior, and this one committed a chilul Hashem, a desecration of G-d's name. Katsav got off way too easy.
Nobody? What about the settlers and the court demolition orders of illegal settlements?
Had he lived in the OPT, his case would have been dismissed as having "too little evidence."
Wondered why Netanyahu had announced the kidnap of that engineer in the Ukraine, and was bombing the crap out of Gaza. He was trying to bury this story in the international press. Well guess what? Has the Thai being charged with those ghastly murders in Itamar yet? Looks like the experiment of shipping folk in from all over the world plonking them in the desert then expecting that they would be light unto nations is as was suspected a load of bollocks.
An ex-president has been tried and convicted of rape. Some would say, in Israel nobody is above the law. Antisemites would say: even the President of the Jews is a rapist. Or they could regurgitate your words of wisdom. See the EUMC definition of antisemitism: 'accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group....."
wouldn't expect myself to agree with Chris on this matter, but he really is the font of wisdom on this one. To agree that it is a total mistake to have established the State of Israel on other people's land as it causes behaviour like this is very surprising
Is this definition valable for any kind of racisism -race, religion...If not, it should be.
Unfortunately the type of racisim which is centred at followers of the Jewish faith is 'special' consequently Jews have their own definition of racism, everyone has to settle for something else. However in my humble opinion this is not anti semitic, as Haaretz is moderated and would not have been published if it was. Always a good guide that
This is an EU (part) definition of antisemtism. To Anne, use the words Muslim or Islam for Jew and it is an EU (part) definition of anti-Muslim or anti-Islam. The same applies to Christian, Budhist etc. Blaming all Palestinuians for the crime(s) of one or a group of Palestinians also falls under this definition. To Mr. I am not an antisemite Milar, this is not a Jewish definition. It is a working definition of an organ of the EU. BTW, it recognizes that there is a Jewish people so it does not only apply to "members of the Jewish faith". Of course one could say that the Jewish conspiracy also controls the EU. Be careful, you are supposed to be anti- Zionist not anti-semitic. I do attach a lot of importance to your remark that the comments were moderated and published in Haaretz.
...Israel. It doesn´t matter if you are a rabbi, president, car mechanic, columnist or artist - if you do the crime, then you will do the time - in the slammer. Now, we might argue if he should have benn sentenced to 5 or 10 years. But a sentence of 7 years is a severe verdict, for a severe crime. The rule of law prevails, and it is a very powerful signal and message that maybe could be used in our fight against rape and violence. It is a good day for the women of Israel, it is a good day for the rule of law, it is a good day for Israel.
If Katsav had not been caught hiding his sausage where it was not wanted would Katsav have been held up as a successful Jew born in another country who was able to achieve the highest office in the land despite not being born there?
that most Jews, especially those in power, are not native to Palestine. They're immigrants.
...the "iranian" remark? Did the Haaretz editor remove that information? If so - a good decision. The ethnicity of Katzav is irrelevant. We have to fight prejudices and racism, not nourish it. This is an individual, Moshe Katzav, and a specific crime. No one else is responsible - not his mother, not his brother, not his fellow likudniks and certainly not "persian jews". Please be vigilant about stereotypes and prejudices. Toda.
It's a great day. All those days during which this man was in power, were all sad days.
H eshould have got the 16 years any other sex criminal would have got. Shame on Israeli Justice. But.......some people are "more equal" than we are.
The sad day for the State of Israel was the day his party decided to run such an odious non-entity as its candidate for the presidency. Today is a day that the State of Israel and its residents can be very proud of.
...isn't that what Israel generally choses for their political posts, Martin? Corruption, war crimes, rape, low chairs for diplomats, losing friends all over - not exactly signs of quality, are they?
He served his sentence already, been exposed by international media and has does his time.
... had he not been roundly convicted, he may even have dared to find new "willing" victims...
If you don't want to be "exposed by international media" -> don't rape women while you are the president of a country. He should have gotten a 7 year sentence for rape and molestation and an additional sentence for swearing a false oath: "I pledge to maintain loyalty to the State of Israel and to its laws and to faithfully fulfill my duties as President of the State." That's the oath he took. I hope they put him in the rapist wing, so he will learn something about how those women felt when they had to enter his office...
I am just giving it a different angle , An average Joe commits rapes and hardly anyone knows, This man also did, the whole world knows. And at this age he paid it over a few times already. The amount of humiliation his family has gone thru is big.
and continues to show none - in fact denies his guilt! if he was not given a prison sentence, he would say that exonerated him. he definitely deserves to serve time!
He probably didn't think it was all that different to what was going on around him in the high echelons. But you forget the horrific emotional damage rape causes its victims. That's why it must be severely punished, no matter where it occurs and certainly when it is perpetrated by someone who is supposed to be representative of a country and thus a role model to those living in it.
What is the definition of rape? How does one go about proving a case of rape? Where is the evidence? So far, there has been nothing but speculation about the 'act' having been rape. Maybe, truth be told, that woman simply had a severe case of remorse and disgust about the incident and wished to 'get even'. Maybe she promised her favors if he promised a promotion. That would not make the incident rape but one of prostitution since being paid for having sex is the definition of that act. If there is not concurrent proof of bruising (which proves forced entry) along with the usual DNA evidence (hair and fluids) there is no case of rape to be made. Too much has been left unsaid for speculation on this case.