TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Israel's attorney general intends to charge President Moshe Katsav with rape but is giving Katsav and his lawyers a last chance to convince him not to do so.
Attorney General Menahem Mazuz' announcement prompted calls for the president's resignation, but his lawyers David Liba'i and Zion Amir indicated he will seek to suspend himself.
Katsav is due to hold a press conference Wednesday and the lawyers said they expect him to announce the planned suspension.
Ten women complained against Katsav, but because some of the complaints are old the attorney general focused on four cases.
Mazuz said he had "sufficient prima facie evidence" to charge the president with raping a subordinate when he was tourism minister, and of having had "prohibited intercourse" with a woman who had headed his President's Bureau. He allegedly performed "indecent acts" against two more employees.
Katsav maintains he is a victim of false accusations as an attempt to sack him and vowed to fight to prove his innocence. His lawyers are now expected to try and convince Mazuz of his innocence in order to prevent a trial. If that fails, they will try to work out a deal.
Several ministers and Knesset (parliament) members insist he must resign and some Knesset members plan to initiate moves to sack Katsav unless he steps down. However, that is a long process and a motion to dismiss a president requires the votes of at least 90 Knesset members in the 120-seat legislature.
The president's position is mainly ceremonial. He is expected to be a unifying symbol and has to be careful to steer clear of divisive issues.
If he suspends himself, Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik will fill in.
