“I will come out standing from this battle…in the same manner as I did with all the battles I have been faced with in my life — with integrity and inner strength,” he wrote.
Mordechai will be charged with committing an indecent act using force, committing an indecent act, and sexual harassment. He faces a maximum seven-year sentence.
Shahak said he would be meeting soon with party activists to discuss the leadership change and talk about the future of the party. At the same time, he noted that Mordechai remains a party and Knesset member, and he said he hopes he will be found innocent.
Despite that, Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein is expected to soon ask the Knesset to lift Mordechai’s parliamentary immunity, and Mordechai’s attorney, Dan Sheinman, said that he will not oppose the request to remove him from the post.
According to members of the party, the decision to appoint Shahak as party leader was unanimous.
Meanwhile, there is speculation Barak may reshuffle his cabinet, with Shas potentially in line for another or more senior position. Housing Minister Yitzhak Levy of the National Religious Party plans to leave the government as soon as Abu Dis is transferred to full Palestinian control.
Regional Cooperation Minister Shimon Peres’ position in the government is also likely to be vacated, since he is the leading candidate for president.
Barak may also be searching for another female minister, following his promise that his cabinet would have more women than any other prime minister.
The prime minister issued a statement wishing Mordechai well.
“Yitzhak Mordechai has merited many honors, and I personally hope that he will be found innocent.”