JERUSALEM — Police recommended yesterday that President Katsav of Israel be charged with rape, sexual assault, and fraud, the most serious charges ever to face an Israeli leader.

The recommendation came at a meeting between police investigators and Attorney General Meni Mazuz. The final decision on whether to put the president on trial is up to General Mazuz.

He does not have a deadline for making his decision and is expected to take several weeks to study the evidence.

Mr. Katsav has denied all wrongdoing. In a statement released by his office, his lawyer, Zion Amir, said police are not authorized to bring charges, noting that in the past, when police have recommended putting senior officials on trial, the attorney general has dismissed most of the cases.

Mr. Katsav asserted in a recent Israel radio interview that political enemies staged the complaints against him.

A police statement issued yesterday said the complaints were filed by “women who worked under his [Katsav’s] authority.” It said there was evidence he committed crimes of “rape, aggravated sexual assault, indecent acts without permission, and offenses under the law to prevent sexual harassment.”

The statement also said police found basis for charges of illegal wiretapping, fraud, and malfeasance in office in the case of pardons granted by the president.