The Knesset House Committee has voted to give President Moshe Katsav a leave of absence. The vote was 13:11. Speaker of the Knesset Dalia Itzik will serve as acting President.
House Committee chairwoman MK Ruhama Avraham (Kadima) told the MKs that the process in committee was tantamount to a legal proceeding. “We must judge the matter seriously, because we’re talking about an irreversible decision. The eyes of the public are on us. We are called on to make a difficult decision. We must protect the public’s rights and Israel’s law enforcement agencies. I expect the president to resign at this time. However, we are also giving a chance for the president to present his argument before the committee,” she said.
Avraham added that Katsav asked for a three-month leave of absence, or until the hearing in his case, whichever came first. She said that the committee’s approval of a leave of absence did not prevent the House Committee from opening proceedings to oust the president, even though the process could take some time.
She added that from the moment the House Committee approved Katsav’s request for a leave of absence, Knesset Speaker Itzik would serve as acting President. She said that to oust the president or remove him from office required a majority vote by 90 MKs in a single open vote. “I hope that there will be no foot dragging or procrastination on the part of anyone,” she said.
MK Limor Livnat (Likud) said, “It is unseemly for Israel to have a president accused of sexual crimes staying on in his post for even one day. Everyone should think of their daughters and wives. If we approve a leave of absence, he can remain president for many years to come. A single charge of misconduct should suffice to oust the president.”
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on January 25, 2007
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2007