Katsav admits he was wrong, women were hurt — sources

Sources close to ex-president Moshe Katsav say that the convicted rapist expressed some degree of remorse in a parole hearing earlier in the day, both Chnnels 2 and 10 report.

“I am sure that the women that complained were hurt and experienced what they said. I am not free of mistakes and I need to understand the takeaways,” Katsav said, according to Channel 2, quoting those close to him. “Now I understand that I hurt them, that I didn’t see the signs that they had been hurt. I messed up.”

In earlier hearings, Katsav had been recalcitrant, refusing to admit nearly any wrongdoing, which was a factor in the refusals to grant him early release before now.

According to sources quoted by Channel 10, Katsav admitted that he had dismissed the complaints of the women too easily.

“Today, he accepts any claim or complaint of someone who says they were hurt by him and does not allow doubts,” the source says.

A decision on granting Katsav early release will be announced next Sunday.