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| By Israel Insider staff and partners October 29, 2006 |
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Israel's attorney general said Sunday that President Moshe Katsav was obligated to suspend himself from office pending the resolution of a series of criminal investigations -- including allegations of rape -- against him.
In a legal opinion given to the Supreme Court, Attorney General Meni Mazuz recommended that Katsav step aside until the allegations are resolved. However, the Cabinet does not have the power to remove Katsav from his mostly ceremonial position, Mazuz said.
Mazuz wrote, in response to a High Court petition, "When there is a police investigation against the president of the State related to a severe criminal offense, whose character, essence, and circumstances are disgraceful, the president must consider taking a temporary leave of absence by turning to Knesset to establish a temporary incapacity."
"At this point in time we are at a stage where the attorney general has already been presented with the findings of the investigation into President Katsav's affair, and the material is currently being examined and evaluated by a team of lawyers," Mazuz added.
Mazuz also added that in previous cases involving ministers and criminal charges such as these, the court has ruled that the ministers cannot continue in their current positions.
Following an investigation into complaints by women who worked for Katsav, 60, police recommended two weeks ago that the president be indicted on charges including rape and aggravated sexual assault.
They also recommended he be charged with fraud, malfeasance and illegal wiretapping, and he is still being investigated on suspicions of disrupting a police investigation and harassing a witness.
Katsav has denied the allegations and said he was the victim of a conspiracy. The president's office declined to comment Sunday on Mazuz's recommendation.
"Of course, the more serious the allegations and the farther along in the process, the obligation increases for the president to take the step of temporarily suspending his term," Mazuz said.
Israel's parliament, which is the only body with the authority to suspend the president, should consider doing so if Katsav refuses to voluntarily remove himself, Mazuz wrote in his legal opinion. The president's refusal to step aside has complicated the investigation since some of the witnesses work for him, Mazuz wrote.
Mazuz has the final say about whether to indict Katsav, but the attorney general said Sunday that he will not make such a decision for several more weeks.
AP and Ynet contributed to this report.
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