Lawmakers decry early release for Katsav

In an early reaction to the decision to free Katsav, Meretz leader Zehava Gal-on calls the decision “frightening.”

“Katsav used his political power to rape and now he is using his political power to get out early,” she writes on Facebook. “The parole board ignored today the public interest and the terrible message they send to his victims, but also all victims of sexual violence: that you can rape women and get away easy, especially if you are well-connected.”

Yesh Atid MK Yael German also expresses dismay over the move and says she hopes President Reuven Rivlin doesn’t sign off on the move, though it’s not clear he would need to.

“It’s impossible that a man who held the most respected position in Israel and was supposed to serve as an example to citizens won’t serve out his sentence for such severe offenses,” she says, according to Walla news.

At least one women is pleased. Katsav’s wife Gila says she is “happy with the decision,” according to Channel 2.