JERUSALEM, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The impeachment process against Israeli President Moshe Katsav reached its completion Wednesday as insufficient parliament members voted in favor of the proposal.

    Israeli media reported that only seven of 25 Knesset (parliament) House Committee members voted in favor of the motion, far from reaching a majority of 19 Knesset members, which is required by the law.

    In January, the Knesset House Committee approved Katsav's request for a three-month temporary suspension, two days after Attorney General Menachem Mazuz announced a decision to indict him with sexual crimes, including rape.

    But the president has vowed to fight for his innocence and refused to resign.

    According to the Israeli Basic Law, the president shall not be criminally prosecuted. The only institution that can dismiss the president without his acquiescence before the end of his term is the Knesset.

    But the law made certain it would be difficult to do so.

    According to its provisions, 20 Knesset members must lodge a complaint to the House Committee against the president.

    If three-quarters of the committee vote to remove the president from office, the resolution will be brought before the Knesset plenum, where a majority of 90 members is required to approve it.