A KADIMA MK AND FORMER LABOR MEMBER TO QUIT KNESSET

Haim Ramon, one of the most awful leftist politicians in Israel, who was first a Labor party member and then left for Kadima, is going to quit the Knesset. And here's why it's good that he's leaving:

Ramon has served as minister of interior, health, justice and vice premier. His term as justice minister ended when he resigned on August 16, 2006, after a July 12, 2006, incident, in which he gave an unwanted kiss on the lips to a female soldier at the Prime Minister's Office.

He was convicted of sexual harassment in January 2007 and served 120 hours of community service, while remaining an MK. He wanted to quit politics then, but he remained at the insistence of then prime minister Ehud Olmert and afterwards Kadima leader Tzipi Livni. He returned to the cabinet in July 2007 and was re-elected to the Knesset for the last time in February.

Yes, he committed crude sexual harrassment, and crude is the word that describes his very personality. And the worst thing about his offense is that he got off very easy compared to former president Moshe Katzav, who's been persecuted by the attorney-general Menny Mazuz for the past 2-3 years on charges that by contrast were trumped up. If Ramon became a minister again, it'd be an embarrassment, and I don't think even the Labor party wants him anymore because of that.

Ramon's departure from the Knesset will be most welcome.