The High Court of Justice has put off a decision on a petition asking the court block a plea bargain agreement signed between the State Prosecutor’s Office and outgoing President Moshe Katzav, saying a delay is needed in order to allow time for a debate on the matter.
The Movement for Quality Government and several women's groups banded together to file the petition asking the court to block the plea bargain.
According to the plea bargain negotiated between the Attorney General and Mr. Katzav's lawyers, the former President will be allowed to plead guilty to reduced charges of sexual offenses, admit to perjury and publicly take responsibility for his actions, in exchange for a suspended sentence. If the former president were to be convicted on the original charges of rape, sexual assault, fraud, breach of trust and corruption, he could have faced a seven-year jail term.