TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Israeli President Moshe Katsav Thursday went on leave of absence amid calls for his resignation over allegations of rape and other sexual offences.
Next week the Knesset (Parliament) House Committee will decide on the procedure for sacking a president. The process is expected to take six weeks and would require the support of 90 members in the 120-seat legislature. At the moment there is no such majority for his dismissal, Yediot Aharonot reported.
The affair gathered momentum Tuesday when Attorney General Meni Mazuz said he might charge Katsav with rape, forced intercourse and sexual harassment of four subordinates.
Katsav denied the allegations claiming he was victim of a "hunting campaign." He requested leave of absence while his lawyers try to convince the attorney general of his innocence.
Thirteen House Committee members voted to approve that leave. Some did so because they wanted Katsav out of the President's Residence immediately. "I don't think he has to be president even one more day," said coalition chairman Avigdor Yitzhaki.
Michael Eitan of the Likud, who had initiated the law allowing for leave, argued that none of the speakers saw the evidence against Katsav. The president has not even been charged, and sacking him would be an irreversible act. "We have to protect his rights," he argued.
One must demand more of a president and that has nothing to do with his guilt or innocence, countered Arab Knesset member Ahmad Tibi.
Eleven committee members opposed leave. If he goes on leave he would still be called president and would probably remain so until his term of office ends this summer, they argued.
"The presidency is a symbol... and the symbol is tarnished.... We are responsible. This (Knesset) ... elected him," said Rabbi Michael Melchior of the Labor-Meimad faction.
