By Dov Gilor
February 1, 2007
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As one Israeli government minister is convicted of sexual misconduct, the president of the state awaits his ordeal on similar charges. I am upset. I am embarrassed. I am touched by the righteous anger of the president. I am saddened by the lessons being learned by our children.
The president of Israel, Moshe Katzav, is publicly accused of behavior worse than that of Justice Minister Ramon and former American President, Clinton. President Katzav is "accused" of rape. He is "accused" of taking advantage of his high position as the others did. His lifetime of accomplishments is being torn from his grasp. The anti-Semites are rejoicing. "Just look at the moral corruption of Israel. The President is a rapist. Government Ministers are in jail. Every Prime Minister since Shamir has been under criminal investigation (Rabin, Peres, Netanyahu, Barak, Sharon, Olmart), as is the current Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi. The Minister of Justice, Tzachi Hanegbi, Minister of Defense, Yitzhak Mordechai, Minister of Labor and welfare, Shlomo Benizri, Minister of Interior, Aryeh Deri, Ariel Sharon's son and several other members of the Knesset from both religious and secular parties and the senior officers of Israel's tax authority, have all been under criminal investigation and several have been indicted.
We must remember that many heavily publicized corruption investigations have led nowhere. Being accused, as we all realize, is not the same as being guilty. Yet, we are barraged each day with updated allegations.
It was difficult to watch President Katzav's anguished performance recently as he categorically denied all of the allegations. He bluntly accused the police and Attorney General, under the influence of the news media, of conducting a witch-hunt to discredit him. He decried the incessant leaking by the police and by the Attorney General's office of prejudicial material and innuendoes. "They are out to get me", he decried and who really knows if he is right or wrong. He is a Sepharadi, religious (Mesorati), right-wing whose defeat of Shimon Peres for the presidency was a bitter pill for the Leftists to swallow. One of the first of his accusers may be tried for her bribery attempt against Katzav. After she came out with her accusation, the police called other women who no longer worked for the president's office and they agreed to make similar claims.
The perennial candidate, Shimon Peres, has already announced his candidacy for the presidency. Left-wing politicians are pushing for an impeachment vote, despite the fact that a hearing still has not been held. The Attorney General still has not filed charges against the president and the president has not as yet been indicted, yet the Left is already choosing its candidate and the press has declared Katzav guilty.
All of his achievements are being ignored. Schools are unceremoniously removing his portrait from their walls, teachers are discussing his "crimes" in their lessons and "everyone" is sure that he is guilty. "Innocent until proven guilty" is not part of Israeli media philosophy.
I, like almost every other journalist, have no clue on whether or not the president is a rapist or if he corrupted his high office. None of those writing the news have any personal knowledge of his guilt or innocence. At the moment all of the evidence is "he said, she said" and the president is suffering in anguish. It is painful to watch the glee of the Left, the confusion of the religious and the Right, and the laughter of the world. If he is guilty, may he receive the punishment that he deserves for desecrating his almost sacred office. If he is innocent, may his besmirchers, persecutors and detractors find themselves in a similar position of accused innocents so that they may suffer his anguish.
Unfortunately, the judges are not always chosen for their righteousness and fairness but rather for their political connections. Unfortunately, the finest and the best do not join the police department. Unfortunately, the Attorney General is appointed by the ruling political party for his agreement with its political philosophy. Unfortunately, President Moshe Katzav may be guilty. Unfortunately, the entire situation reflects badly on Israel and brings joy to the hearts of our enemies. Pray for us!
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