Israel's ex-president Moshe Katsav denied early release from prison

A parole board rejected on Wednesday Israeli former President Moshe Katsav's bid for early release, Haartez reported on Wednesday. 

The board unanimously ruled that Katsav should complete his seven-year jail term. 

Katsav's lawyer Zion Amir said that the former president intends to appeal the ruling.

Katsav, Israel's eighth president, was convicted in 2010 of rape, commission of an indecent act by force, sexual harassment, and obstruction of justice.

Katsav is not willing to admit to the offenses in which he was convicted and to accept responsibility for his actions, the parole board's ruling said. 

Katsav sees himself as a victim and that he is blaming "external factors" for his circumstances, it added. 

The board stated that Katsav "failed to show remorse or empathy toward that victims, while repeating the high price that he has paid and continues to pay."

Katsav "continues to claim his innocence despite the court's ruling in the case, and is busy of trying to prove his innocence... as if there was no due process," the board added, while noting that Katsav refused to undergo rehabilitation programs in prison.

Source: MENA