国际英语新闻：Israeli ex-president facing long jail term

JERUSALEM, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Former Israeli President Moshe Katzav is facing between five to 10 years in prison for raping a female employee during his tenure as tourism minister in 1998, according to local media.

The Tel Aviv District Court last Thursday convicted Katzav of two counts of rape, along with several other crimes, including sexual harassment and indecent acts against two other women he worked with at the Presidential Residence.

Katzav was not placed under arrest following the reading of the verdict, despite the severity of the charges, and was allowed to return home. Legal sources said the court did not order his immediate incarceration since he is not considered a flight risk, nor does he pose a danger to his victims or other women.

The State Attorney's Office is not expected to request the maximum term, 16 years, for Katzav's offenses, the report said.

The court is expected to impose the sentence within two months, the Yediot Aharonoth newspaper reported Sunday.