Katzav appealed to the public with a speech detailing his account regarding the rape allegations and what he termed a "media lynching". At one point the president's staff wrestled over a microphone with reporters who tried to interrupt him.
In a dramatic speech, to the surprise of the media, Katzav finally gave
his side of the story.
"
I started this whole story last July by inviting on my own volition the Attorney General, without any lawyer or anything else - because I knew I had done nothing wrong. I went to complain about an attempt to blackmail me. Would a normal person who did something wrong go to the Attorney General and say he is being blackmailed?!
I advised him to place a gag order, so there could be a fair investigation. But this was not done for even one minute - and there were leaks all the time. There were leaks from the prosecution and from the police and from everywhere - just one side didn't leak, and that was me - the President of Israel, Moshe Katzav."
Katzav blasted the media for attacking him publicly without checking any facts whatsoever.
"
For the past six months, you have heard the brainwashing from the media. You have heard every day for six months details of the terrible acts of the president of Israel, hair-raising stories as if they are facts. You have seen irresponsible commentators standing and explaining, without fulfilling their basic responsibility of checking the most basic things. You therefore had no choice but to be influenced by them; you couldn't think otherwise.
I know no one else who could have survived this period, but I did - [knocking on table] - because I know the truth. In Israel 2007, it seems there is no need in this for proofs or for evidence; it's enough just to hear one side; my fate was decreed even before I could say one word. Not one of you [reporters] has seen one shred of evidence against me. There is no evidence against me.
But you in the press did not allow the facts to bother you. You did not stop for a second to ask yourselves if maybe the accusations are not true. Not one of you asked questions; not one of you - not one radio or TV or newspaper - did an investigative piece to see if it's true. You transgressed all journalist ethics!"
"
Ladies and gentlemen, no charge has ever been filed against me in the police! Not from 12 women, and not from one!"
The presidents speech was lengthy and provided a graphic portrayal of media misconduct, as well as police misconduct. Fortunately for Katzav the public response was very positive.
The President's spokesperson, Hagit Cohen, said Wednesday morning that the outpouring of support for the President is unprecedented. "In my three years in this position as spokesperson, I have never seen such a deluge of expressions of support as now. The switchboard at the president's residence is collapsing from calls of solidarity, as is the fax machine."
Cohen further noted that the president's words entered the hearts of the public. "Many citizens particularly identify with President Katzav's criticism of the Israeli media," she noted.
Katzav's speech is available at the link provided above. Having read the entire text, I found myself having tremendous sympathy for him. It almost brought tears to my eyes. Yet today I see little in the news from any of the major reporting bureaus. They were quick to post headlines:
President of Israel facing Rape Allegations, wire tapping, and a host of other possible charges. Where are headlines today that should be providing the information and documented evidence that support Katzav's claims of innocence? AP, Reuters, BBC.... no follow up on the allegations.
I have seen here in the U.S. how our media has literally ruined peoples lives by spreading rumors as truths. They don't always go back and explain when it turns out the headlines were wrong. Worse yet, when the media has an agenda, it is no longer reporting it is propaganda. And when the media becomes part of a police and state's political party agenda you can bet that freedom will be a thing of the past.
Here is another quote from Katzav's speech:
"McCarthyism has been revived here in Israel. And one of the worst dangers is the cooperation between the police and media. In any normal country, the media are the last line of defense for a citizen who demands simple justice and basic civil rights. When the police persecute people in a totalitarian country, the media rises to protect him. But here the media and the police work together, leak to each other - and the civil rights of the citizens are trampled. Where are the bleeding hearts? Why don’t they raise their voice against this injustice?"
