Israel president now faces
eight women accusers
Agence France-Presse . Jerusalem
The Israeli president, Moshe Katzav, now faces charges of sexual harassment
from a total of eight women plaintiffs, Israeli media reported Wednesday.
There was no immediate confirmation from Israeli police of the reports
carried by both the privately owned Channel Two television and the
top-selling Yediot Aharonot daily on its internet edition.
Katsav has now been grilled by police five times over the allegations,
originally made by two women, that threaten to end his career.
The married Iranian-born 61-year-old father-of-five faces allegations
that he forced women employees to have sex with him by abusing his position
of authority and suspicions that his office granted illegal pardons to
prisoners.
Katsav, who could yet be forced to resign, has denied the allegations
against him and rejected calls that he step down pending the investigation.
The Katsav case is the latest blow to hit Israel's leadership, with prime
minister Ehud Olmert's government steering its way through public anger over
failings of its 34-day war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.