A former Israeli justice minister found guilty of molestation may be able to return to politics. Haim Ramon, who was convicted two months ago of forcing a kiss on a female soldier, was sentenced Thursday to 120 hours of community service and fined $3,600. But the ruling in Tel Aviv Magistrate Court did not describe the crime as one of “moral turpitude,” a label that under Israeli law would bar Ramon from again assuming public office. Ramon, 56, resigned from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s government after the scandal broke last year. Long considered a rising star in Israeli politics, he has not made a clear statement on his future plans.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
