Israeli President Moshe Katsav resigned Friday as part of a controversial bargain exempting him from jail time over accusations of sexual harassment of several women employees.

Katsav handed his resignation Friday to Knesset (parliament) Speaker Dalia Itzik, Israel Radio reported. It was announced yesterday that the 61-year-old politician had signed a plea bargain with Attorney General Meni Mazuz.

The Israeli president was accused of sexual harassment and rape lat year and an investigation was begun. In January 2007, Katsav took a leave of absence from his presidential duties.

The bargain he has signed provides that Katsav does not go to jail or perform community service, instead receiving a suspended sentence. Under the deal, Katsav will plead guilty to sexual harassment, indecent acts and harassing a witness, Mazuz said Thursday.

As soon as his resignation takes effect late Sunday (48 hours after submission), an indictment will be filed against Katsav early next week on charges of committing an indecent act without consent through the use of pressure, sexual harassment and harassing a witness.

The charges against Katsav included two counts of rape. Ten female employees pressed charges against the former president, accusing him of sexual harassment.

Mazuz said Thursday that Katsav would also pay damages to the complainants. “The president will plead guilty to three charges, and will receive a suspended sentence and be ordered to pay compensation to the complainants,” the Attorney General said.

The Dahaf Institute published a poll Friday exploring Israelis’ perspective on the situation. As many as 69 percent opposed Katsav’s bargain; three-quarters of the respondents considered Katsav escaped indictment for rape.

Of the 503 adult Israelis interviewed for the poll, 73 percent said justice had not been done. The poll has a margin of error of 4.4 per cent.

Katsav, whose term as president would have ended in mid-July, will be formally replaced by Israeli statesman Shimon Peres, who was elected in a Knesset vote earlier this month, on July 15.

Dalia Itzik will continue to serve as acting president until Peres is sworn in.