The Maariv newspaper, continuing the tradition in much of Israel's media of reporting leaked information from confidential police investigations, reported today that President Katzav had said that two of the women accusing him of sexual assault are tied to Likud Party leader MK Binyamin Netanyahu.
Maariv thus reported that though the president did not accuse Netanyahu outright of compelling the women to file complaints against him, the implication was there. The background of such charges is that Netanyahu might be wary of a possible bid by Katzav to contend for leadership of the Likud Party in the future. The president's term in office ends next year.
In an afternoon interview with Voice of Israel Radio, Katzav put to rest such rumors. He said outright that the entire affair "is a libel that was woven against me over a long period of time, and continues even now, by a band of criminals. I do not mean Binyamin Netanyahu."
Ironically, Netanyahu himself once accused one of his own political competitors, David Levy, of having been behind similar accusations against Netanyahu - and was later forced to retract.
Maariv also reported that a lie-detector test taken by one of the women indicates that Netanyahu was unaware of and not involved in her plans to accuse the president. In addition, it is considered highly unlikely that Netanyahu would take the politically risky step of involving himself in such machinations against the President.
Katzav further said, "I have no doubt that this is a libel against me. I don't know on what [Attorney General] Mazuz based himself when he said it's not a blood-libel. I know the truth."
The president came out strongly against the media's role in the scandal: "This is a very difficult time for me. I am strong because I know the truth, and I believe that sooner or later - I hope sooner - it will come out... The public pressure [for me to resign or suspend myself] exists only in the media; they are leading it. I have received strong expressions of personal support... The press has transgressed many rules of ethics, even bordering on criminal activity, with false testimony, and as they have in the past, I believe that they will come and ask me forgiveness."
Katzav said that the "hostile press has looked for women who worked with me 35 years ago [to see if they would complain against me]. At least half of [those who are now accusing me] never filed a police complaint, and the others have feelings of vengeance - they were not accepted for work or the like."
The latest complainant made her case on Channel Two via her boyfriend, Yaron Armoza. Armoza said that Katzav had "touched" her, made inappropriate comments, and used force on her, and that his method was to "turn [a female employee] into the queen of the office, and then suddenly all office business must pass through her."
Katzav's lawyer Tzion Amir said about the latest complainant, "There is no limit to the [lack of] shame and boldness. This is a woman who succeeded in carrying through on her threats. She was fired in February '99 on the backdrop of her behavior defined as humiliating and verbally violent, including the breaking of objects in the office and the like." Amir read aloud a card she sent the President before she was fired, in which she wished the president a "good year in every sense of the word," and said that he was fatherly, concerned, and beloved by all.
Asked why he is the subject of such hostility, Katzav said, "That is a subject for a major study. The press has always been hostile to me, ever since I entered office. They have always been looking for dirt on me, but never found anything. The only time anything ever came up is when I myself turned to Mazuz on my own [complaining that I was being blackmailed]; nothing else was ever found against me."
Asked why he does not simply suspend himself, the president said, "For me to suspend myself or to quit would be simply giving a reward to this group of criminals; imagine what it would be like if every time a complaint is filed against a public figure, he would have to suspend himself. The custom is to suspend oneself or to quit only once an indictment is filed, even before the trial is over, and that custom should be continued."
"I very much hope that this difficult and complex investigation will end soon; it's already been nearly three months. If the police have to increase their team of investigators, they should do it; it cannot be that this public storm should continue this way for so long. I say that I am totally innocent, the press is reporting what they're reporting, and the public should know the truth."
Police are investigating complaints by nine women against the president, alleging varying degrees of sexual assault and rape. A number of the complaints will not be investigated, as the statute of limitations has expired on them.
Police reportedly believe that in four of the cases, there is sufficient evidence to move ahead with criminal indictments. The final decision is to be made by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz.
President Katzav is also facing possible charges of improprieties regarding his clemency decisions for prisoners, as well as breach of trust.
Maariv thus reported that though the president did not accuse Netanyahu outright of compelling the women to file complaints against him, the implication was there. The background of such charges is that Netanyahu might be wary of a possible bid by Katzav to contend for leadership of the Likud Party in the future. The president's term in office ends next year.
In an afternoon interview with Voice of Israel Radio, Katzav put to rest such rumors. He said outright that the entire affair "is a libel that was woven against me over a long period of time, and continues even now, by a band of criminals. I do not mean Binyamin Netanyahu."
Ironically, Netanyahu himself once accused one of his own political competitors, David Levy, of having been behind similar accusations against Netanyahu - and was later forced to retract.
Maariv also reported that a lie-detector test taken by one of the women indicates that Netanyahu was unaware of and not involved in her plans to accuse the president. In addition, it is considered highly unlikely that Netanyahu would take the politically risky step of involving himself in such machinations against the President.
Katzav further said, "I have no doubt that this is a libel against me. I don't know on what [Attorney General] Mazuz based himself when he said it's not a blood-libel. I know the truth."
The president came out strongly against the media's role in the scandal: "This is a very difficult time for me. I am strong because I know the truth, and I believe that sooner or later - I hope sooner - it will come out... The public pressure [for me to resign or suspend myself] exists only in the media; they are leading it. I have received strong expressions of personal support... The press has transgressed many rules of ethics, even bordering on criminal activity, with false testimony, and as they have in the past, I believe that they will come and ask me forgiveness."
Katzav said that the "hostile press has looked for women who worked with me 35 years ago [to see if they would complain against me]. At least half of [those who are now accusing me] never filed a police complaint, and the others have feelings of vengeance - they were not accepted for work or the like."
The latest complainant made her case on Channel Two via her boyfriend, Yaron Armoza. Armoza said that Katzav had "touched" her, made inappropriate comments, and used force on her, and that his method was to "turn [a female employee] into the queen of the office, and then suddenly all office business must pass through her."
Katzav's lawyer Tzion Amir said about the latest complainant, "There is no limit to the [lack of] shame and boldness. This is a woman who succeeded in carrying through on her threats. She was fired in February '99 on the backdrop of her behavior defined as humiliating and verbally violent, including the breaking of objects in the office and the like." Amir read aloud a card she sent the President before she was fired, in which she wished the president a "good year in every sense of the word," and said that he was fatherly, concerned, and beloved by all.
Asked why he is the subject of such hostility, Katzav said, "That is a subject for a major study. The press has always been hostile to me, ever since I entered office. They have always been looking for dirt on me, but never found anything. The only time anything ever came up is when I myself turned to Mazuz on my own [complaining that I was being blackmailed]; nothing else was ever found against me."
Asked why he does not simply suspend himself, the president said, "For me to suspend myself or to quit would be simply giving a reward to this group of criminals; imagine what it would be like if every time a complaint is filed against a public figure, he would have to suspend himself. The custom is to suspend oneself or to quit only once an indictment is filed, even before the trial is over, and that custom should be continued."
"I very much hope that this difficult and complex investigation will end soon; it's already been nearly three months. If the police have to increase their team of investigators, they should do it; it cannot be that this public storm should continue this way for so long. I say that I am totally innocent, the press is reporting what they're reporting, and the public should know the truth."
Police are investigating complaints by nine women against the president, alleging varying degrees of sexual assault and rape. A number of the complaints will not be investigated, as the statute of limitations has expired on them.
Police reportedly believe that in four of the cases, there is sufficient evidence to move ahead with criminal indictments. The final decision is to be made by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz.
President Katzav is also facing possible charges of improprieties regarding his clemency decisions for prisoners, as well as breach of trust.