Women’s Groups Outraged at Former Israeli President’s Early Release

The decision by Israel’s parole board to grant early release to former President Moshe Katzav has triggered outrage on the part of women’s groups. Katzav has served five years of a seven year sentence for a series of sex crimes including rape. In announcing its decision on Sunday, the parole board ordered that Katzav remain incarcerated for an additional week to allow for appeals against his release to be heard. It also ordered Katzav to follow a strict regimen after his release that includes a 6pm to 10am curfew, mandatory bible study, weekly sessions with a therapist and attendance at group therapy. The former president is also forbidden from speaking to media or having anyone speak to reporters on his behalf. In apparent recognition of his use of the power of his office to intimidate women into succumbing to his wishes, he is banned from holding any position in which there are women subordinates. But despite the limitations placed on Katzav, the Association of Rape Crisis Centers called the parole board’s decision “outrageous and infuriating and is a slap in the face to the victims of Katsav and all victims of sexual violence.”