Shai from Jerusalem: The President

Last Sunday, the 8th president of the State of Israel stepped down from office. He sent the letter on Friday and his resignation was effective from the beginning of the week. Moshe Katsav was forced to conclude his term of office before it officially ended.

Although in two weeks time he would have completed his 7-year term, he had no choice but to step down. Unfortunately, he will go down in history as the president that was forced to go home after the attorney general determined that he is a serial sex offender.

Katsav's predecessor, the late Ezer Weizman, also had to leave his position before his second term officially came to an end. Notwithstanding the difference in circumstances, the fact that Israel's last two presidents were compelled to resign prematurely is a sorry state of affairs.

Most likely, the plea bargain deal will go through, Katsav will go back to his home in Kiryat Malachi while the highly respected judicial system, together with the attorney-general, will lose out. In the eyes of the Israeli public, it is a black day for Israeli governance – particularly for the judicial system.

The Israeli public lost faith in its leadership in general and in the political system in particular, but the legal system was always considered to be the last bastion of integrity. Now, it appears that this, too, has suffered a serious blow.

However, we must not underestimate the process that has taken place over the last two years – one that is simultaneously healthy and painful. Those who wield authority and power, military officers and government officials are no longer at liberty to harass their female subordinates.

A former defense minister, a former minister of justice, the president, together with a list of military and police officers and senior civil servants, have been indicted for such offenses. Presumably, Israel is no different from other countries in this regard, but that does not justify it in any way.

It is now perfectly clear that any attempt at sexual harassment of women (or men for that matter) by their superiors, will be received with a black flag.

Israel is in the process of recovery, cleansing itself of those who deviate from the accepted norms and standards of decent behavior. While this process is taking place, we are outraged and ashamed. But I would like to believe that in time, Israeli society will be cured and the principles of appropriate behavior will be internalized by our public figures and senior officials.

If there is a ray of light in these difficult moments that Israel is experiencing, it is yet to come.