Justice Ministry: Katsav's speech pathetic
Ministry officials slam former president's address as 'bold-faced lie' say he's turning case into media circus. 'We have grown tired of hearing about how wronged he feels,' women's groups say
Justice Ministry officials slammed former President Moshe Katsav speech against the State Prosecutor's Office, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and the complainants in his case, saying his statements were bold-faced lies.
In a long-winded televised address made by Katsav following the State Prosecutor's Office decision to file rape charges against him, the former president accused Mazuz, the prosecution, the complainants and the media of coming together and being in cahoots with the sole purpose of framing him.
Justice Ministry Spokesman Moshe Cohen accused Katsav of turning the case into a "media circus," adding that it was an expression of Katsav having "taken a leave of his senses."
"This was a breach of the basic norms of conduct by someone who up until not so long ago held the highest office. The entire speech was riddled with bogus facts and false accusation, not to mention relentless slander against the attorney general and the heads of the law enforcement system.
"Criminal proceedings cannot be turned into a 'press conference' where any allegation, preposterous as it may be, can just be spouted."
A source in the ministry added that "Mr. Katsav stated that he wishes to prove his innocence. If this is really what he desires, the proper place to pursue that is in the court of law and through the proper legal proceedings, not by making pathetic false accusations and trying to intimidate law enforcement agents."
'Speech disgraceful, pathetic'
"Katsav's speech was redundant and ridiculous. He has single-handedly dug himself into a hole," added a source in the State Prosecutor's Office. "He seems to have forgotten that judges watch television as well."
The source refuted the former presidents' allegation that he was persecuted by Attorney General Mazuz, saying that "if (Mazuz) was motivated by that, why did he wait to indict? Katsav decided to fight is through the media. His allegations of leaks from the case are preposterous."
Nissim Duek, who serves as the media advisor to complainant A. of the Office of the President, said that "Katsav is once more lying to the nation's face. I'm still waiting for the proof he claims to have, that all of these women have conspired against him."
The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel offered the following comment: "It is high time for Katsav to make his case in court, where the truth is sure to come to light; instead of continuing to abase the complainants, the police, the State Prosecutor's Office and the media. We have grown tired of hearing about how wronged he feels."
Rina Bar Tal, director of the Israel Women's Network, added that "the former president's conduct is pathetic and repugnant. A man accused of rape and other severe sex crimes should be heard only in a court of law. This cynical address proves only that he continues to conduct himself in the same manner as he did when he was president – abusing office and power in order to try and intimidate the complainants."
Ronit Ehrenfreund-Cohen head of WIZO's Status of Women Division said her group "regrets the platform given to the former president. This entire case would be better conducted inside a courtroom, and it would have been better if (Katsav) had refrained form slandering Attorney General Mazuz, the police, the media and these courageous complainants.
"Wizo welcomes the decision on the indictment, which indicates the State Prosecutor's Office faith in the complainant as well as in many other women who are afraid to tell their story."
Yael Branovsky and Anat Shalev contributed to this report
