Ramon to resign on Sunday, will face trial on indecent assault
Justice Min. waives immunity, right to hearing; Ramon charged with allegedly forcibly kissing female soldier.
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz CorrespondentJustice Minister Haim Ramon announced on Friday to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz that he waives his parliamentary immunity and his right to a special hearing, and plans to resign from his post on Sunday.
This announcement follows Mazuz's decision on Thursday to charge Ramon with indecent assault for allegedly having forcibly kissed an 18-year-old female soldier in a government office.
Ramon asked Mazuz to ensure a speedy trial "for personal reasons, but also because of public interest."
Ramon said that he is certain that he would be successful in court, and that he would prove that a kiss of two, three seconds, based on the complainant's version, cannot be considered an act with criminal intent.
In his interrogation, Ramon said that the accuser was the one who initiated the kiss, which took place July 12, at a social event held at the defense ministry complex in Tel Aviv. He also maintained that the woman had given him her phone number following the kiss.
The justice ministry refused to reveal the details of the investigation, but sources reported that in her interrogation, the complainant convinced the attorneys following the case that her version is reliable. Mazuz himself did not meet with the accuser, but was also convinced that an indictment was in order.
In his official announcement of the indictment on Thursday Mazuz wrote, "at the end of the day, the events of the alleged transgression between Ramon and the complainant spanned only a few seconds, and was not witnessed by anyone. The variations between the two opposing versions boil down to these few seconds. "
"In a case of two conflicting versions," Mazuz continued, "when the accuser's version is consistent, appears believable and is independently supported by other testimonies, there is no other option but to indict and leave the decision up to the court. In a case involving a cabinet minister and a young soldier and an event occurring during work hours inside a government office, a decision must be made. There is considerable public interest in a clear and decisive conclusion."
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immorality rampant a friend oh mine in law enforcement tells me Israel imports tons of children for sex .... a small nation and such silence at what happens with children and at the sodom tel aviv...what it going on...will Israel disappear????
what a filthy beast touching her purity
What? really, I can see what is going on. A FRENCH kiss!!!. Now we see the truth. You are collaberating with Bush and trying to blame your problems on FRENCH PEOPLE!!!!
It seems Israel is copying some more of the worst aspects of American culture circa 1990s and now...Philip Roth eviscerated the current notions of "sexual harassment" and "sexual assault" in his penetrating novel, "The Human Stain", which was written in response to the Clinto-Lewinsky "affair". What we should have learned from the neo-Puritan, Sexual McCarthyite attack on personal liberty and personal freedom, is that when militant feminism joins forces with neo-Puritanism, we are all doomed to an unhappier and less healthy civic life. The Attorney General should hang his head for bringing this indictment, when he didn't even interview the complainant. And should a 3 second kiss end the polical career of Haim Ramon, or anyone in his or her situation? Let's face it...neo-Puritanism has no real place in the Middle East and certainly not Israel. We should be striving more toward the direction of Meditteranean and Latin cultural styles, i.e. France or Brazil for example, where sexuality is
I find it hard to believe that Israelis speak about moral uprightness and being on the side of good and yet they elect and are led by leaders who are morally corrupt. Shameful!
President Kennedy was screwing around in the White House yet he was and is aadmired to this day. President Clinton had sexual "encounters" (Cigar usage is not sex) and his popularity is soaring. Dayan could not keep his pants zipped up. Yet, he was very popular with women , Israeli and of the diplomatic corpus. Haim Ramon, makes a mistake and kisses the young siren in a rapid volley of 3 and is now dragged before the courts. We don't know all details. We will know!!! If the courts are like in USA the young ladies l'amour history will become a public spectacle. One is wondering why did she make a big stinck out of it. What is the punishment for uninvited 3 kisses in Israel? Couldn't she just pass on to the newspapers this info. Ramons political reputation would have been tainted and perhaps he would have resigned. Hey Ladies.Did any of you had similar incodents with Olmert,Peretz and Halutz? Do the nation a favor,please. As for Livni? Were any men kissed by Tzipi?
You have stated the truth. And may I add. All the lies from the rulling elite gang has only given the Jewish Jews the determination to make Israel a Jewish State.
I have been following his moves through the media news for years and I have found him to be scum of the earth who thinks and damends TWO SETS OF LAWS. ONE FOR HIM AND HIS GANG OF LEFT AND ONE FOR THE REST OF CITIZENS OF ISRAEL. For Ex. he on Ted Koppel Nightly News (USA) there was a round the table towns meeting regarding OSLO. This ANTI SEMITE AND SELF HATEING JEW, WITH SUCH HATERD WAS BANGING ON THE TABLE AND YELLING "WE WILL CRUSH WHO EVER IS OPPOSE TO THE OSLO. WE WILL USE ALL NESSECCERY FORCE THAT IS IN OUR LEGAL RIGHT TO CRUSH THE RIGHT. WE HAVE THE MAJORITY OF KENNESET BY ONE , ONE SEAT. WE WILL CRUSH". ONE SEAT WAS HIS ARGUMENT TO ORDER CRONNY POLICE TO BEAT UP ON OLD/YOUNG DEMONSTRADERS. GOD IS CRUSHING YOU NOW SCUM OF THE EARTH.
The incident is bad and sad, of course, regardless of who is right or wrong. On the other hand Israel can again be proud of the democratic and fair handling of the issue. Israel is under heavy pressure and remains able to perform in accordance with good standards.
what a bunch of crap! this sex saga makes headlines to cover-up for more back-room-behind-the-scene political maneuvering and posturing. and it's also a titillating diversion from the REAL NEWS. readers gotta see through the smokescreen and distrust those corrupt partners in crime!
Can you please tell us what we can learn from the folks in the United Arab Emirates that can make the world a better place to live ? (How to pump oil doesn't count).
Looks like Israel is really being influenced by the the US (The Bill Clinton case). The worst part is that it happened around the time the war broke out. SO sad to see people dying by leaders who cannot control their hormones. No wonder Israeli leaders made such poor decisons when they attacked Lebanon.
It appears that top government officials may need to get with their car and office a Mistress! What an example to the country; the President and Minister of Justice??.oh, yes, now just accused. Not yet proven!
I am wandering about the level of moralities in Israel. First one military leader selling his stocks before going to war, then a justice minister on charges of indecent assault, then the Prime minister's story of buying a house. Nobody should be surprized at the high level of support in Israel for war and for killing so many people in Lebanon. Moralities are in acute shortage...
VERY, VERY SAD AND MUCH MORE SO FOR A JUSTICE MINISTER...OUR VERY SURVIVAL HAS BEEN DEPENDANT, AND WILL DEPEND UPON OUR HIGH MORAL STANDARDS, IN WAR BUT MAINLY IN PEACE
Isn't it interesting that exactly 1 year after one of the most vile acts committed by a group of ARROGANT Jews against other Jews, the expulsion from Gush Katif, and with the specter of this same group attempting to perpetrate another vile act, they are confounded by the very situation they created. In their collective arrogance each one has become an object of private and public ridicule. THERE IS A G-D!
False complaint ? become the weapon for the women, in case, that they want to revenge the man, and there is a lot of reason for this!!! The bad thing is, even the police discover that it is - False Complaint ? they don?t do anything against this woman!!!
Ironic, felled by a French kiss!!!!
So what? he kissed , what he did was not right, but there is much worse things he could of done. Everyone makes mistakes ! Shabbat shalom!
Was it Ramon who favored of even more Jews From the west Bank? Was it Sharon who executed the Plan of Gush Katif ??? Was it Omri who danced with this Idea ??? Was it Halutz who executed the Plan of Gush Katif ??? Was it Olmert whoo was trying to get Convergence to ??? Was it Kadima ??? You are all heading the same place. Was there any tears for what you did to thousands of your brothers and sisters plight and misery you caused them ??? Or was it your stocks that you are concerned with the day you are supposed to go to war ??? Or was it the temtation you could not resist Or etc... You all ought to be ahamed of yous selfs. Start repenting befor almighty and the Jews you threw out like animals from Hush Katif
He was trying to train her in French "neshica".Maybe she imagine or ask for it? Maybe not. Anyway this is the pay for being in public service. I wish you a quick recovery from this stupid event. Best for you Dr Steinbaum
A minister is brought to your representants of God's wrath because of a three-second kiss, while another is applauded for initiating dead kisses lasting several weeks that provoked the killing of 118 Israeli soldiers and hundreds of civilians of all ages on both sides, in a useless and animal war that speaks against the spiritual roots of the jewish culture. No wonder your enemies say Israel does not exist and should be erased from the map.
No wonder we lost the war. While we send our boys to fight our politician are more involved in their personal life than in those who they sent to war. I am sorry, but even shades of gray is not acceptable here. I am sickened by this kind of news: making a pass, selling stocks or asking our boys to steal from locals to eat. What have we succumbed to? I am sad. Very, very sad. We lost any claim for any morality.
Isn't it interesting that exactly 1 year after one of the most vile acts committed by a group of ARROGANT Jews against other Jews, the expulsion from Gush Katif, and with the specter of this same group attempting to perpetrate another vile act, they are confounded by the very situation they created. In their collective arrogance each one has become an object of private and public ridicule. THERE IS A G-D!
Thank The Good Lord for getting rid of these leftist politicians who only want to remove more Jews from their homes!!! Shabbat SHALOM!
His Excellency Haim Ramon, Minister of Injustice!
hello..i am sad...and upset that two of the most senior public figures in israel are involved -- for right or wrong..in an act...considered "el cheapo"...please gentle-men for the dignity of the nation...you can get this fantasy...elsewhere...at a very decent price...but not your respectfull position...it beats me...no word...can describe...the sad events...for those of us who uphold the name of i.s.r.a.e.l. voila.
The Mossad like moves to get rid of politicians is SO yesterday. How come all this crap came out now? If the Israelis wanna change the gov't might as well be OPEN about it not slither their way through it! Sickening
Shades of Bill Clinton-in a Jewish country!!!!! Plese God return Israel to a Jewish state not a Western Democracy.