JERUSALEM - Israels disgraced president Moshe Katsav resigned on Friday after signing a controversial plea bargain that will see him convicted of sexual offences but escape jail for initial rape charges. The father of five, who suspended himself from duty in January over the worst scandal to befall an Israeli leader, sent a letter of resignation by courier to parliament speaker Dalia Itzik, a senior aide to Katsav told AFP. His resignation will take effect in 48 hours, when Itzik will be named interim president and the state prosecution will indict Katsav.The Iranian-born president was forced out of his seven-year term in office some two weeks before Nobel peace laureate Shimon Peres is officially sworn in as his successor, having been elected Israels ninth president this month. I wish to end the term of my office two weeks in advance and therefore I announce my resignation, Katsav wrote in the letter to Itzik, according to parliamentary sources.
The 61-year-old and Israels first head of state born in an Islamic country on Thursday signed the deal, admitting to a series of sex offences, including harassment and indecent acts, but dropping two rape charges. The plea bargain sparked a wave of national outrage.
Vice Premier Shimon Peres ended his losing ways on Wednesday, beating MKs Reuven Rivlin (Likud) and Colette Avital (Labor) to become Israel's ninth president. The victory vanquished his previous eight defeats. He also avenged his loss to the Likud's 
(Xinhua) -- The Israeli Knesset (parliament) House Committee on Thursday approved President 
Head of the northern faction of the Islamic Movement Sheikh Raed Salah said Friday that soon Jerusalem will be the capital of the new Muslim caliphate, and the caliphs seat will be there. Salah addressed an audience of 50,000 attending the Islamic Movements 11th annual rally in Umm al-Fahm. Caliph refers to a leader of the Muslim nation and in Arabic means the heir or substitute of the prophet Muhammad.