Katsav decided to reduce Har-Shefi's jail sentence by one-third, allowing her release on August 10 after serving 6 months of a nine-month sentence. Har-Shefi, who was convicted of failing to report Yigal Amir's plans to assassinate Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, has always contended her innocence. A public outcry from the right accompanied her case, and supporters and family had appealed to Katsav to pardon her.

"She is guilty and she remains guilty," Katsav told Israel

"Har-Shefi has paid her debt to society and has been punished." - President Moshe Katsav

Radio in an interview, after he commuted Har-Shefi's sentence. Katsav defended his decision by saying that he was convinced that "Har-Shefi has paid her debt to society, has been punished, and is pained by the horrible assassination and has denounced it."

Katsav was influenced by the difficulties Har-Shefi experienced attempting to maintain Jewish rituals because her prison did not have a religious section. Katsav also took into account that Har-Shefi had suffered for over five years between the time the allegations first arose and the time she went to prison.

In explaining his decision, Katsav said that he was releasing Har-Shefi on the date recommended by the State Attorney's Office, that he had consulted with former General Security Service heads Ami Ayalon and Carmi Gillon, and that the GSS had not opposed the early release.

Katsav expressed his hope that Har-Shefi's release would "unify the nation around condemnation of [Rabin's] murder." Perhaps the most controversial reason Katsav used to justify his decision was when he said that Har-Shefi "expressed sincere regret that she failed and erred in perceiving reality."

Opposition leader Yossi Sarid (Meretz) noted that three courts and the prison parole board did not support Katsav's arguments in favor of Har-Shefi's release. "These panels did not identify any signs of regret by Har-Shefi, and apparently only our president was able to distinguish her undetectable remorse," he said.

Deputy Defense Minister Dalia Rabin-Pelossof (Labor), the murdered prime minister's daughter, said Katsav's decision "pains us all. All the legal processes that dealt with her case unequivocally ruled her guilty of not acting to prevent the horrible murder." Rabin-Pelossof added that the decision " sent a negative message to youth that the president will be merciful toward those who don't prevent crime."

Law Committee chairman Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor) called Katsav's decision "political," and said it was a result of pressure from the right.

This morning MK Eitan Cabel (Labor) petitioned Israel's High Court to overturn Katsav's decision. "The president acted with disregard to three legal opinions," Cabel said, expressing the fear that Yigal Amir might one day have his sentence commuted.

Katsav's decision was warmly welcomed on the right. Har-Shefi's father told Israeli television that "the community in Beit-El is convinced, 100 percent, that Margalit is innocent of any crime." MK Benny Elon (National Union), who is Har-Shefi's uncle, said he is sorry that an "innocent girl sat in jail for such a long time."

MK Michael Kleiner (Herut) said Katsav's decision was "brave and correct." Kleiner said it was unacceptable that Har-Shefi had served an unjust sentence, while Avishai Raviv and his operators were still evading trial.

Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit (Likud), who had previously opposed requests for Har-Shefi's early release, said he would sign the necessary documents in "respect to the President and his decision."

In commentary published today in Ha'aretz, Gideon Alon notes that President Katsav "did not actually pardon Har-Shefi; he merely reduced her sentence." As Alon explained, a "pardon means that the convict's criminal record is erased. In Har-Shefi's case, the conviction will remain on her record."

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