AP News
July 5,2000
Jerusalem
- An Israeli parliamentary committee voted Wednesday to revoke the
immunity of a former Cabinet minister accused by three women of sexual
assault and harassment.
At the request of the
attorney general, the House Committee voted to remove the parliamentary
immunity of former Transportation Minister Yitzhak Mordechai. The vote was
16 in favor with two abstentions and no dissenting votes.
Mordechai, 55, a
former defense minister and a highly decorated army general, resigned from
his post as transportation minister on May 28, after Attorney General
Elyakim Rubinstein announced that criminal charges would be brought
against him.
The charges centered
on accusations by a former employee that he shoved her onto a couch and
put his hand under her blouse. After the accusations were made public, two
other women came forward with accounts of unwelcome sexual advances by
Mordechai.
In accordance with
Israeli law, the names of the three women have not been made public.
Rubinstein said Mordechai, 55, would be charged with aggravated sexual
assault and sexual harassment.
His young second wife,
Cochavit Mordechai, left him shortly after the attorney general announced
his decision.
At the parliamentary
committee meeting, Mordechai said he welcomed the lifting of his immunity
so the trial could take place, "as this is the only way to prove my
innocence.'' He has denied all the charges.
He ignored a
reporter's question about whether he would resign his parliamentary seat.
If Mordechai is convicted and the conviction withstands appeal, he would
automatically lose his seat in the Knesset, or parliament.
