"I do not maintain that there are none but excellent men amongst us"

Preach it, Theo.

So, let's take a look at the Israeli scene this morning. Whadda we got?

Well, there's the Prez. Word is Katsav is going to be charged with rape, sexual harassment, obstruction of justice, fraud and breach of trust. The A.G. said that there are four complainants who have valid cases, a fifth who has "no case", and another five whose statute of limitations have expired (but might still be asked to testify)- so, ten people who've come forward accusing the President of Israel of sexual misconduct of some fashion. Wow.

Some details:

The four women whom Katsav is accused of sexually molesting include three past and present employees of the President's Residence and one who worked under Katsav during his tenure as tourism minister, in 1998-9. Mazuz also plans to charge the president with giving away cups that belonged to the President's Residence at private events, as well as with obstruction of justice and harassing a witness, for trying to pressure one of the President's Residence employees to retract her complaint against him.

The rape charge involves A., the former Tourism Ministry employee. Katsav will also be charged with forcible indecent acts against her.

In the case of a second A., who worked in Katsav's office at the President's Residence in 2003-4, Mazuz decided not to accept the police's recommendation that he indict the president for rape. Instead, Katsav will be charged with exploiting his status as her employer to have sex with her, as well as with indecent acts and sexual harassment.

In the case of the two other President's Residence employees, Katsav will be charged with indecent acts that involved exploiting his status as an employer and sexual harassment.

I don't know why Mazuz feels the need to include "giving away cups" in the indictment, but oh well. I guess he's throwing the whole book at the guy.

There's also apparently an interesting wiretapping angle, which, though apparently not ordered by the President, did allow him to listen in on any calls to the residence. (You also have to wonder if at some point Katsav's knowledge and possible use of this equipment doesn't also indicate tacit approval.)

Shmuel Rosner has a good column this week analyzing the situation. Rosner notes that, ironically, one of the reasons Katsav was elected President was the feeling that he would be a good guy for the position- that is, bland and uncontroversial. There goes that plan. Rosner also points out that this latest debacle only further undermines the already irrelevant office:

Why does a country with a parliamentary system need a president at all? The argument so far was that a country as divided and troubled by conflicts as Israel needs a unifying, non-partisan, figure. A symbol. But if scandals will keep coming from the President's Residence, the number of people calling for the dismantling of this office will grow. Katsav, I wrote in the past, "is not the one to be blamed for it - presidents before him were the center of more controversies - but rather the man who was supposed to stop it from happening." Apart from the criminal acts he is accused of - but not yet convicted - in this mission he has already failed miserably.

My thoughts? The less politicians the better, and the less ineffectual government positions the better. Nix the President position and turn the residence into a day-care center or something productive. There's also the point that in Israel, more so than probably a lot of countries, it's well night impossible to have a non-partisan politician. If that's what the job is actually supposed to be, you might want to rethink the process by which the position is filled- for instance, maybe it shouldn't only be open to career politicians on their last legs. (News flash to Shimon Peres- no, you don't need to be President. Better to retire and write another book.)

Oh, and Katsav apparently doesn't know his European history. That's fair, though, I bet there are plenty of Ashkenazi MKs who don't know about Sephardi history- but maybe they have the sense to keep their mouths shut.

What else?

- The criminal probe of Olmert for selling Bank Leumi is still going on.

- MK Hanegbi's spoil-system web is spreading ever outward, like a fragile, innocent snowflake. Only it's giving political cancer to everyone it touches. The charges are fraud, bribery and perjury, and Hanegbi has defended himself in the press by saying "political appointments are normative". I don't think that's going to fly, Mr. Tweed. Got any more sound-bites?

- Avraham Hirschson is being investigated for connections to an embezzlement scam that occured under his watch as a union leader.

- Oh, and there's allegations that Peretz got votes illegally. Score.

Sigh.