| Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik became Israel's acting president on Thursday after the Knesset House Committee granted President Moshe Katsav's request for a temporary suspension from office as he battles Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz's decision in principle to indict him for rape and other offenses. The committee's vote, after a tumultuous six-hour debate, was a narrow 13 in favor and 11 against, with the defeated dissenters pressing to reject Katsav's request for a suspension and instead move toward impeaching him. |