In an interview with the London newspaper The Sunday Times, President Moshe Katsav's primary accuser, "Aleph", described in the most graphic details to date her alleged encounter with the suspended president, in which she accused the latter of rape.
The incident allegedly occurred while "Aleph" was working in the Ministry of Tourism between 1998 and 1999, during which time Katsav was minister.
"I went into his office with a book I needed to put away," she said. "He was sitting at his desk, and there was a big wall of books behind him. I was reaching up to put the book away when he came up behind me.
"He was behind me in a kind of hug," she continued. "It was like my hands were tied. He is not a big person, but he is strong. I said, 'What are you doing?'
"I don't know why I said that. I was shocked. He said, 'I want you. I want you to love me. Why don't you love me? I want to have sex with you.' I think I said again, 'What are you doing?'"
According to The Sunday Times, "Aleph" described how Katsav pushed her onto the corner of his desk and how he allegedly forced her hips onto the table.
"My hands were on the table, and his hands were over mine on the table. I'm not weak. [But] I had this feeling I never felt before - you can't do anything.
"Before I even understood, he opened his belt and he pulled up my skirt. I started saying, 'I'm leaving, I'm quitting.' I was sure that he would stop.
"Maybe I didn't struggle enough," she said. "I was shocked. I was thinking, what if people know, what if I don't have a job? He penetrated me." The alleged attack lasted minutes, she said. "One of my legs was out of my panties, and I put it back in. And I pulled them up, and I just left his office. I took my purse from my desk, and I just went."
Following an investigation into Aleph's accusations, which lasted months, Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz decided to recommend in January indicting Katsav on charges of rape and committing an indecent act without the consent of the victim.
