Moshe Katsav
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| Moshe Katsav | |
 <small/> | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office August 1, 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Ezer Weizman |
|---|---|
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| Born | December 5, 1945 Yazd, Iran |
| Political party | Likud |
| Spouse | Gila Katsav |
Moshe Katsav (Hebrew מֹשֶׁה קַצָּב, Persian موشه کاتساو), (born Mussa Ghassab December 5, 1945) is the eighth and current President of Israel (since 2000). He is married to Gila Katsav.
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[edit] Biography
Moshe Katsav was born in Yazd, Iran. His family brought him to Tehran when he was an infant; in August 1951, when he was 5, they emigrated to Israel. He remains fluent in Persian.
Upon arriving in Israel, the Katsav family was ultimately dispatched to an immigrant tent-camp in Israel's south, inland from the port city of Ashdod. In the winter of 1951, severe flooding inundated the camp, and Moshe's 2-month old brother Zion was killed. Moshe and his family lived in a tent in the transit camp for 2 years. They then spent an additional 4 years in a 1-and-a-half room temporary hut. By then, the transit camp in which the Katsav's had been living had been transformed into the "development town" of Kiryat Malachi (Town of Angels, named after the donations from the Jewish community of Los Angeles which had helped make the town possible.)
Katsav attended the Hebrew University of Jerusalem beginning in 1968, and while studying taught history and mathematics in a high school. He graduated in 1971 with a BA in economics and history.
He has been married to his wife Gila since 1969, and the couple have 5 children and 2 grandchildren. After a 30-year career in banking, Gila has devoted herself to charity and volunteer work, especially in groups fighting domestic violence and promoting women's rights, and providing aid and services to disabled children and children from disadvantaged homes.
[edit] Political career
Katsav joined the Likud party and at the age of 24 was elected the mayor of Qiryat Mal'akhi, a small town in Israel -- the youngest mayor ever elected in Israel. He was subsequently elected as a Member of the Knesset. During his time in the Knesset, Prime Minister Menachem Begin sent Katsav to Iran twice to encourage the Jews there to immigrate to Israel.
Under the governments of Begin and Yitzhak Shamir, Katsav served as the deputy Minister of Construction and Housing (1981-84). He was then served as the Minister of Labor and Welfare during the National Unity Government which served in the years 1984-88. During 1988-92 he served as the Transportation Minister under Yitzhak Shamir, and under Benjamin Netanyahu's government (1996-1999), he served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism.
The public positions filled by Moshe Katsav include the following: Chairman of the Iranian Immigrants Organization; Chairman of the commission to determine higher education tuition; and Member of Ben-Gurion University Board of Trustees. In addition, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Nebraska, Omaha.
[edit] President
After serving as Deputy Prime Minister in the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, Katsav vied for the position of President, running as the opposition candidate against Shimon Peres. In a surprising upset, he defeated Peres to become the president of Israel, being elected by the Knesset on July 31, 2000. He took 63 votes (over 57 for Peres), two more than the required majority of 61, and was sworn in on August 1. He is the first President of Israel to have been sworn in for a 7-year term, as well as the first candidate from the right wing Likud party to be elected to the office. Katsav is the second president of Mizrahic origin, and the first president to have been born in an Islamic country. If Katsav had been defeated, Peres would have been the first ex-Prime Minister to be elected President.
The office of the Israeli President is largely ceremonial, with no executive powers save pardoning prisoners and commuting sentences. Nevertheless, each president emphasizes different aspects of the role during his tenure. Though expected to remain neutral from Israeli politics and represent the entire nation, most presidents have expressed their views in statements or actions. Katsav supported the unsuccessful 2002 cease-fire plan between Israel and the Palestinians (rejected by then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon) and refused to pardon Yigal Amir, the convicted murderer of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
[edit] 2006 sexual harassment and rape case
In July 2006, allegations surfaced that Katsav had sexually harassed and raped women. The affair is currently unfolding. <ref>"A-G orders Katsav investigation", Jerusalem Post, July 11, 2006</ref>
On August 22, Katzav's house was raided by police who seized computers and documents. There were calls for him to resign or suspend himself from the presidency. This came only days after Justice Minister Haim Ramon resigned after police investigation, also over alleged sexual harassment, led to an indictment. <ref>Police question Katsav; evidence said 'dramatic' - Haaretz, August 23, 2006</ref> Katsav was questioned on August 23 ("under warning") by police in connection with sexual harassment and corruption, including an accusation that he coerced a former female employee into having sex with him.<ref>Police question Israeli President over sex allegations, The Times, August 23, 2006</ref> On August 25, IBA estimated that the police investigation could last months, so that by the time Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz is prepared to decide whether to indict, Katzav's term as president might be over. <ref>"Yoman", IBA, August 25, 2006 (Hebrew)</ref>
On September 7, after concluding the fourth investigation, and having obtained complaints from at least 4 different women, according to IBA's correspondent for police affairs, the Israeli Police "carefully" estimated that at this time they had the evidentiary basis for an indictment. On that day, the Judges' Election Committee unanimously approved Dorit Beinisch's appointment as president of the Supreme Court of Israel. Katzav refrained from attending, "to prevent dispute." <ref>Today in the news, IBA, September 7, 2006 (Hebrew)</ref>
On September 13, the Knesset's House Committee approved Katzav's request for a 1-day temporary leave of absence so that he could refrain from attending and presiding over Beinisch's formal swearing in ceremony, normally held in the presidential compound, now to be held in the Knesset. The Committee's chairwoman Ruhama Avraham did, however, advise Katzav to opt for a more lengthy leave. <ref>"Katsav avoids ceremonial duties", BBC, September 13, 2006</ref>
On that day, Katzav was interviewed by police for many hours (from 10 am till at least 7 pm) for the fifth time. Police confirmed that 7 women had by now testified against Katzav, and that the allegations now also include "breach of trust, fraud and involvement in illegal wiretapping." <ref>"Katsav allegations include wiretapping", Jerusalem Post, September 14, 2006</ref>
Speaking for the first time on the case, on September 18, Israel's Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, stated in an interview that likelihood of Katzav's claim that he had been made victim of a plot is "fairly slim," this due to the "long line of women who complained against him." <ref>"Mazuz says Katsav was not made victim of libel", Jerusalem Post, September 18, 2006</ref><ref>"Katzav's investigation is at completion stages", Haaretz, September 19, 2006</ref> By September 21, the number of women accusing Katsav of sexual assault had risen to 8. <ref>"Eighth allegation of sexual assault filed against Katsav", Haaretz, September 21, 2006</ref>
On October 15, 2006, police recommended pursuing rape and sexual harassment charges against Katsav. Complaints by 5 of the women will not be pursued because the statute of limitations has run out.<ref>"Rape Charge Advised Vs. Israel President", The Washington Post, October 15, 2006</ref> On October 16, Haaretz reported that Mazuz is expected to adopt most of the police's recommendations and indict the president. <ref>"Mazuz anticipated to adopt most of the police's recommendations and indict the president", Haaretz, October 16, 2006 (Hebrew)</ref>
On October 29, 2006, Katsav was advised by Israel's attorney general, Menachem Mazuz, to step down from presidential duties and temporarly suspend himself while the matter of Indictment is still considered. Katsav, who continues to deny the allegations, has announced, via his Lawyers, that if indicted - he will resign.<ref>"President must 'step down'", Sky News, October 29, 2006</ref>
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
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