The Israeli version of the Monica Lewinsky scandal has the public captivated. Today, when former President Moshe Katzav appeared in court for the first time — denying allegations of sexual misconduct ranging from harassment to rape — all TV and radio stations live-streamed the event. The former President, who had complained bitterly in the past that the media was sentencing him without ever giving him the benefit of the doubt, took the opportunity to repeat these allegations:

Here I won’t be sentenced without being seen, without being heard, and without having all the material of the investigation read… We are heading out on a long and difficult battle to clear my name. God willing, I will remain innocent.

The most striking element of Katzav’s denial — inspiring déjà vu in American observers — is his claim that he never had any sexual contact with any of the women testifying against him. This undermines the credibility of his version of the disputed events, as Katzav was ready to admit sexual contact had occurred when he negotiated a plea bargain in mid 2007.

Katzav later decided to cancel the bargain his lawyers reached, and the result is the renewed trial that started today. It remains to be seen if the scandal will have the Lewinskyesque legs in the Israeli media.