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| By Ynetnews February 11, 2007 |
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Hundreds of women demonstrated Saturday evening against President Moshe Katsav, calling on him to resign.
The women, who gathered outside the Tel Aviv Museum, urged the Knesset to impeach the president if he refuses to leave his post.
Tal Kramer-Vadai, director of the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, told Ynet that "the demonstration was aimed at calling on Knesset members to work to immediately impeach Katsav and at expressing our support of sex victims and standing behind them."
Rabbi Yerahmiel Barilka, an Orthodox rabbi, arrived at the demonstration with his wife Ethel and their 2-year-old son in order to express their civil protest.
He told Ynet that "it was important for me to express my opinion, because the protest is not strong enough here. This is the reason we came from Jerusalem and it is important for us as citizens to take part in such things."
Yaron Armoza, a social activist and a friend of one of the complainants, arrived at the demonstration from Jerusalem.
"I came here with my wife and children in order to express my solidarity and was shocked to discover that no male MK or legal official agreed to come and express his support. I think this is one of our problems."
Knesset Member Nadia Hilou (Labor) told Ynet, "A woman's body is not free for all, even if the criminal is the no. one citizen. I am not here to judge, but he should resign and face the trial as a citizen."
Attorney Talia Livni, president of NA'AMAT Israel, said, "We want to maintain the State's dignity and the Knesset's dignity."
MK Shelly Yacimovich (Labor) told Ynet, "Unfortunately, the fact that the president is not being impeached is creating a situation of inequality in the face of the law. A normal citizen, had he been suspected of harsh sex offenses, would have already been sitting in jail and would have been on trial. The president's impeachment is an obvious thing and the fact that it has not happened is a disgrace to us all."
Turning to the complainants, Yacimovich said, "The message I am conveying is completely personal. They will not be alone from beginning to end."
Reprinted with permission from Ynet. |
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