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Israel lawmakers mull Katsav fate Israel MPs allow Katsav absence
(about 3 hours later)
Israeli lawmakers are meeting to decide whether to grant temporary leave to President Moshe Katsav, who faces a number of allegations including rape. Israeli MPs have narrowly approved a request by President Moshe Katsav to take leave of absence so he can fight rape and other allegations.
The meeting follows a request by Mr Katsav that parliament approve the leave of absence while he fights to clear his name. Committee members poured over legal documents in an attempt to work out the consequences of their recommendations.
On Wednesday he angrily denied the allegations, describing them as "the libel, the defamation, the lies". The case has shaken Israeli political circles and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has called on him to step down.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has called on him to step down. On Wednesday Mr Katsav angrily denied the allegations, describing them as "the libel, the defamation, the lies".
At a news conference yesterday, an irate Mr Katsav hit out at his accusers. Correspondents say the move to consider Mr Katsav as "temporarily incapacitated" is a face-saving measure as Attorney General Menachem Mazuz decides whether to order what would be an unprecedented criminal trial for an Israeli head of state.
The House Committee vote could hardly have been closer, with 13 MPs voting in favour of the president's request for a three-month leave of absence and 11 against.
At a news conference on Wednesday, an irate Mr Katsav hit out at his accusers.
"The law does not oblige me to resign," he said. "I will not give in to blackmail.""The law does not oblige me to resign," he said. "I will not give in to blackmail."
The Israeli parliament's 25-member house committee is to decide whether to approve his request for a leave of absence. The measure needs a majority to pass. Speaker of Parliament Dalia Itzik will take on Mr Katsav's mainly ceremonial role.
If the leave were approved, Speaker of Parliament Dalia Itzik would assume his role. As president, Mr Katsav has immunity from prosecution - a status unaffected by the suspension approved on Thursday.
But there is growing pressure on Mr Katsav to step down and also moves by lawmakers to impeach him. But there is growing pressure on him to step down and also moves by lawmakers to impeach him.
"Under these circumstances, there is no doubt in my mind that the president cannot continue to fulfil his position and he must leave the president's residence," Mr Olmert said on Wednesday."Under these circumstances, there is no doubt in my mind that the president cannot continue to fulfil his position and he must leave the president's residence," Mr Olmert said on Wednesday.
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said on Tuesday that he intended to charge Mr Katsav with offences including rape, obstruction of justice and fraud. Mr Mazuz said on Tuesday that he intended to charge Mr Katsav with offences including rape, obstruction of justice and fraud.