‘Colorless’ Moshe Katsav Engulfed by Rape Charges

Once mocked by his critics as colorless, Moshe Katsav was only ever considered a compromise candidate for the presidency when he was elected six years ago.But his alleged actions could end up fatally compromising the ceremonial position. Mr. Katsav stunned his critics when he was elected by Israeli members of parliament to become president in 2000, a time that would turn out to be crucial for Israel’s international standing.Members of parliament elected Mr. Katsav, 60, as president precisely because he was considered a gray and lightweight political figure. The favorite for the job, Shimon Peres, the left-wing warhorse of Israeli politics, was seen as too contentious.Born in Iran to a family from Persia’s once sizable Jewish community, Mr. Katsav, whose surname means “butcher” in Hebrew, arrived in Israel as a 5-year-old child when his working-class parents immigrated to the newly formed state in 1951.After a brief but undistinguished military career, he moved to politics and, at 24, was elected as the country’s youngest mayor. In 1977 he was elected to parliament for the newly formed Likud Party, which he served loyally without fanfarein parliament for the next 23 years, although he was twice rewarded with Cabinet positions. With the state president chosen by members of the Knesset for a seven-year term, Mr. Katsav was put up as the bland, right-wing alternative to Mr. Peres in 2000.The outbreak of the second intifada, which saw wave after wave of suicide bombings and Israel’s military retaliation, drew intense scrutiny on the state.Mr. Katsav used presidential visits overseas to reiterate Israel’s right to self-defense, and he made repeated warnings about the rise of global anti-Semitism. He also has used his Iranian background to try to break the deadlock surrounding Israel’s international position.At the funeral of Pope John Paul II last year, Mr. Katsav introduced himself to Mohammad Khatemi, the former president of Iran, who was born in the same Iranian town, Yazd, as Mr. Katsav.The two spoke briefly in their common language of birth, Farsi.Nine months short of serving his full term, Mr. Katsav now finds himself accused of rape, sexual harassment, and fraud. In office, the gray man now appears to have turned out anything but gray.

‘Colorless’ Moshe Katsav Engulfed by Rape Charges

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