1st LD: Israel's former rapist president paroled after five years in jail

An Israeli parole committee accepted Sunday a request to grant an early release to former president Moshe Katsav, who is jailed for rape and other sexual offenses.

A court spokesperson said in a statement that Katsav could walk free next week, after serving five years of his seven-year sentence.

Zion Amir, Katsav's attorney, told Israel's Ynet news site that Katsav burst into tears when he heard of the decision.

His release was postponed for a week to allow the State Attorney's Office, which objects the parole, to appeal against the decision.

Under the terms of his parole, Katsav would have to join a Prison Service rehabilitation program. He would also have to stay under house arrest every night, from 10 pm to 6 am, until the end of his parole period.

The committee also imposed restrictions on speaking to the media and forbid him to hold a job position in which he will have woman subordinates.

Katsav, 70, who served as Israel's seventh president between 2000 and 2007. In 2011, he was convicted of two counts of rape of women who worked for him, as well as sexual harassment of others, and obstruction of justice.

He was sentenced to seven years in the Ma'asiyahu Prison in central Israel.

He served approximately two-thirds of his sentence, making him eligible to apply for early release, but the parole committee has twice declined his requests because he failed to acknowledge his offenses or express any remorse.

Katsav also refused to enroll in a rehabilitation program for sex offenders inside the prison, a condition required for early release.

However, last week the parole committee said Katsav acknowledged for the first time the suffering of his victims, although he still did not admit committing any crime against them.

In its decision on Sunday, the committee noted that Katsav was willing to join a rehabilitation program of the Prison Service outside jail.

The decision triggered criticism.

Zehava Galon, the chairwoman of the Mertz left-wing party, said the decision was "frightening."

"Katsav used his political power to rape and now he is using his political power to get out early," she writes on Facebook. "The parole board ignored today the public interest and the terrible message they send to his victims, but also all victims of sexual violence: that you can rape women and get away easy, especially if you are well-connected." Endit