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Israel's President Moshe Katsav continues to undergo questioning by police. (AP file)
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners August 26, 2006 |
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Israel's president, named in two sexual harassment complaints, said Saturday he won't step aside until police have completed their investigation.
Several Israeli legislators have demanded that President Moshe Katsav resign immediately.
In an interview broadcast Saturday on Israel Radio, Katsav insisted that he is innnocent. "Members of the Israeli parliament are coming out with demands ... to fire (me), to suspend (me). Again, we have to enable the police to at least complete the investigation," he said.
Katsav was questioned twice by police this week about allegations that he sexually harassed two female employees. Officers also searched the president's residence, seizing documents and Katsav's personal computer.
Interviews with one of the alleged victims have elicited her claim that Katsav's actions went beyond harrassment and were in fact "forcible rape."
Israeli police questioned President Moshe Katsav for a second day Thursday about sexual harrassment allegations, while a lawmaker collected signatures to begin the impeachment process.
Police questioned Katsav on Wednesday for more than seven hours.
The probe focuses on accusations by two former female employees who told police Katsav harassed them. One of the women has also reportedly accused Katsav of receiving money for granting pardons -- one of the few authorities vested in the president, who has a largely ceremonial role.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Katsav, who was supposed to start a vacation today with his children and grandchildren, insisted on continuing the investigation today to prove his innocence.
Katsav, who denies wrongdoing, has said he will not resign. However, there are growing calls for him to step aside, at least until the investigation is completed. Yoram Marciano, a Labor Party lawmaker, said he plans to collect the minimum signatures of 20 legislators to begin an impeachment process in parliament.
The AP contributed to this report.
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