THE FORMER PRESIDENT of Israel, Moshe Katsav, has been found guilty of rape by a Tel Aviv court and could face a minimum of four years in jail.

Katsav was found guilty on two charges of rape and on further charges of sexual harassment.

The most serious offences relate to a two separate incidents involving one woman (referred to as Woman A) in the late 1990s, when Katsav was tourism minister. The sexual harassment charges relate to claims of sexual harassment of two women in 2003 and 2005, when he was president.

Rape carries a jail term of at least four years in Israel, and the BBC reports that Katsav could face a terms as long a 16 years. He is expected to appeal today’s judgement in the Israeli supreme court.

Katsav had been offered a plea bargain, but insisted on his day in court. Today, he was accompanied by members of his family in the courtroom, although his wife did not attend. On reading the verdict, the presiding judge Judge George Karra said: “We believe the plaintiff (Woman A) because her testimony is supported by elements of evidence, and she told the truth.” In contrast, Karra added that Katsav’s testimony was “riddled with lies”.

Katsav was president of Israel for seven years, from 2000 to 2007. The rape allegations surfaced in 2006 prompting him to step down the following year. Israel’s current president, Shimon Peres, then took over the largely ceremonial post.

The case has shocked Israel, as the allegations were the most serious to ever be levelled against a head of state.

Katsav and his family still maintain that he is innocent and have said they will fight the charges. However, women’s groups have welcomed the ruling.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a “sad day for the State of Israel and its citizens” but added: “Today the court conveyed two clear-cut messages, that all are equal before the law and that every woman has exclusive rights to her body.”