Moshe Katsav became the first person of Mizrahi descent to hold the Israeli presidency after defeating Shimon Peres in a 2000 Knesset vote. His tenure concluded amidst significant legal challenges, marking the first time in the history of the state that an individual who served as its head of state faced criminal conviction and incarceration.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1945 in Yazd, Iran, he originally bore the name Musa Qassab. His family relocated to Tehran during his infancy before emigrating to Israel in 1951. After spending time in a transitional tent camp, the family settled in Kiryat Malakhi. Katsav attended the Ben Shemen Youth Village before completing his military service in the Israel Defense Forces C4I Corps in 1964. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics and history from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1971.
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Katsav initiated his political path within the Likud Party, securing the mayoral position in Kiryat Malakhi in 1969. In 1977, he was elected to the Knesset, serving until 2000. Throughout his legislative career, he held various ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Labor and Welfare from 1984 to 1988, Minister of Transportation from 1988 to 1992, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism from 1996 to 1999.
Presidency and Legal Conviction
Elected on 31 July 2000, he became the first president to serve a seven-year term. His time in office ended prematurely due to allegations of sexual offenses involving subordinates. Following a 2010 trial, he was convicted of two counts of rape, obstruction of justice, and other charges. In 2011, the Supreme Court of Israel affirmed these convictions. He served five years of a seven-year sentence at Maasiyahu Prison, beginning in 2011, and was released under restrictive conditions in 2016.
Fast facts
- Born: 1945, Yazd
- Citizenship: Israel
- Political Party: Likud
- President of Israel: 2000-2007
- Education: Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Languages: English, Persian, Arabic
Questions readers ask
Was Moshe Katsav the first Likud member to serve as President of Israel?
Yes, he was the first member of the Likud party to hold the office.
What specific criminal charges led to his imprisonment?
He was convicted of two counts of rape, obstruction of justice, and additional charges related to sexual harassment and fraud.
Achievements
- Educated at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Ben Shemen Youth Village
- Worked as politician
