President quits under plea bargain

Israeli President Moshe Katsav resigned on Friday under a much-criticized plea bargain that dropped planned rape charges and the threat of jail time.

His resignation - two weeks before his seven-year term was to expire - takes effect on Sunday and clears the way for his indictment on lesser charges of indecent acts, sexual harassment and obstruction of justice. He will receive a suspended prison sentence and be required to pay damages to two of his four accusers, all former female employees.

The plea deal Katsav signed on Thursday was a dramatic reversal by Attorney General Meni Mazuz, who had announced in January that he planned to try the president on charges of rape and other sex crimes - counts that could have landed him in prison for 20 years.