The president of the High Court Wednesday morning criticized the position of government attorneys concerning a witness against former President Moshe Katzav. Attorney General Menachem Mazuz struck a deal with Katzav and his attorneys in which the former president would not serve prison time. The government would drop the charges of rape and Katzav would plead guilty to lesser charges.

During the resumption of hearings on the case, Court President Dorit Beinisch said that attorneys in the office of Attorney General Menachem Mazuz diminished the influence of Katzav on the principle complainant who had a sexual relationship with him. Beinisch said that Katzav exploited his position of power as President at the expense of the woman, who advanced in her career while having relations with him.