Israeli President Talks of Resigning

Citing his health, Israeli President Ezer Weizman said Sunday that he probably will resign before his term ends in 2003--the first time he has spoken openly of stepping down since allegations surfaced that he accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from a French millionaire.

The head of state was accused of taking more than $300,000 in gifts from a French textiles magnate between 1988 and 1993, when Weizman was a Cabinet minister and a legislator. He has denied doing anything improper.

Police last week recommended closing the case, citing lack of evidence on some charges and an expired statute of limitations on others.

Weizman told reporters that he expects to resign. “My legs don’t walk as they used to. . . . Look, I am about to turn 76, which means that by 2003, I’ll be 79,” he said.

He said that he originally planned to step down today, Independence Day, but that the police probe delayed that. He did not elaborate, but reports after the scandal broke said Weizman would wait to resign until after the allegations of wrongdoing were no longer in the headlines.