Former Israeli president to be sentenced for rape

JERUSALEM: A court in Tel Aviv is a former president to condemn Israeli convicted of rape. Moshe Katsav faces up to 16 years in prison when his sentence was pronounced on Tuesday. He says he is innocent.

Katsav was convicted in December of two counts of raping an employee when he was tourism minister in 1998.

The court also found guilty of sexual harassment of two other women who worked for him when he was president from 2000 to 2007.

Intense public pressure forced him to resign two weeks before leaving office. The case made ​​history in Israel because Katsav is the highest ranking official convicted of a crime.

Israel's presidency is largely a ceremonial post, traditionally given as a reward for a life of public service.