Israeli President Moshe Katsav. (Kevin Frayer/Associated Press)
It was clear to many that Israeli President Moshe Katsav, who has been under scrutiny since the summer, was poised to make a dramatic move, and he did.
On Jan. 24, facing charges of corruption and sexual misconduct, Katsav asked parliament to remove him temporarily from office. While the move was likely made to quiet increasing calls for his resignation or impeachment over the formal charges that had just been laid, it also deprived Katsav of presidential immunity from prosecution.
Katsav faces a list of charges stemming from an investigation into a sexual harassment allegation first made in July.
At that point, Katsav approached Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, claiming a former employee, identified only as "Aleph," was trying to blackmail him. However, the investigation soon turned into an investigation of complaints against Katsav himself.
"Aleph" accused him of coercing her into having sex with him, and threatening to fire her. She also alleged misconduct in how Katsav granted presidential pardons.
Katsav is facing indictments of sexually harassing four women, rape, breach of trust and other charges. Five other women also accused Katsav of sexual harassment, but prosecutors cannot pursue the claims since a statute of limitations has elapsed.
In his first public comments on the rape allegations, a fired-up Katsav said: "All of these charges are a terrible, hateful lie," and added "McCarthyism is alive and well in Israel."
The accusations snowballed into a months-long probe wherein police questioned Katsav extensively on several occasions and also raided his home, seizing personal assets and records.
Under Israeli law, a president cannot be put on trial while in office but parliament has the power to impeach him. Ninety of parliament's 120 members must support impeachment in order for such a motion to proceed.
Katsav's term is due to end in July, but many are urging him to step down permanently. The Israeli president is largely a figurehead, with mostly ceremonial duties, but the office clearly comes with a degree of moral leadership. As such, Katsav now faces a firestorm of criticism.
Not the first
Katsav is not the first high-ranking official in Israel to have his career disrupted by legal issues.
Earlier this month, authorities launched a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's alleged role in the 2005 sale of Leumi Bank, the country's largest financial institution.
Olmert, who was industry, trade and labour minister at the time, is being investigated by authorities for allegedly favouring business associates in the sale of the bank. A recent Angus-Reid poll indicates 47 per cent of Israelis believe Olmert should step down over the affair.
Katsav's predecessor, Ezer Weizman, resigned in 2000 after the attorney general determined he had improperly accepted payments of more than $450,000 from French textile magnate Edouard Saroussi. Weizman was never formally charged or indicted and opted to resign the presidency as accusations heated up.
In February 2006, Omri Sharon, son of former prime minister Ariel Sharon, was convicted for falsifying documents and perjury while working as a campaign fundraiser for his father in 1999. Omri Sharon was sentenced to nine months in prison and fined $64,000 US.
Yitzhak Mordechai, a general, former defence minister and decorated war hero, resigned over allegations of sexual misconduct in 2000. In March 2001, Mordechai was convicted of sexually assaulting and harassing two women and was given an 18-month suspended sentence. He has denied all charges to this day, claiming to be the victim of a political conspiracy.
