In the myriad of commentaries written and spoken about the ludicrous defensive speech of President Moshe Katsav, the advocates of the defendant-to-be won relatively little attention.

Advocate Tzion Amir, who attended the televised event, and Prof. David Libai, who spared himself the dubious pleasure, are now more than likely huddled in their offices poring over the new evidence sent from the Attorney General's office. As is probably customary for them, they are immersing themselves in the painstaking job of constructing the best line of defense possible for their client.

This immersion, other than serving the task for which they are being paid, is likely to serve a personal purpose shared by the two venerable legal experts: Washing off the memory of Wednesday's speech.

The attorneys have not been blessed with the cleverest of clients, to be sure, and this has clearly been taken into account in their strategy. It is doubtful whether Katsav consulted with his current lawyers before inviting AG Menachem Mazuz to his presidential residence to complain that he has been subjected to a blackmail attempt by a former employee. There is no other reasonable explanation for the quick change in roles from complainant to suspect but legal short-sightedness, which Amir and Libai could not be believed to possess.

Over the past six months, Katsav and his representatives have been repeating the same mantra over and over again, oblivious to the reality that changed before their very eyes. From what was described as a bitter, unstable young woman making a desperate dash at smearing her former employer, testimonies by new complainants kept piling up next to fresh evidence of other suspicions – some sexually-tinged, others reeking of sheer corruption.

Mazuz's announcement of his intention to charge Katsav with extremely severe offences, including rape, was the gong chime for the president. If anything, his decision not to keep silent anymore and speak his heart before the entire nation, was a solid proof to his detractors: President Moshe Katsav cannot control his impulses.

The bearer of the position that is most symbolic of the Israeli democracy should know better. The person vested with the task of projecting reconciliation and poise to a nation that is made up of that many political, ethnic and social divisions should be able to maintain his composure and let the facts speak for themselves in court. But no – Katsav could no longer bear to keep his wrath within. He had to lash out. And so he did.

If such a thing can be said, the impeccably-girded figure of Tzion Amir could not hide the evident urge to bump his head repeatedly in the nearest solid wall. The speech was not written by him, it could not have been. Katsav let his passion dictate the bitter, unruly and far-fetched accusations at any-thing and any-one in the Israelite kingdom but he, its unblemished Presidente.

With the hearing still in store before an indictment can finally be served against their client, Amir and Libai have a long way to go before the legal trench warfare will commence at the Jerusalem District Court. They've been there before, they will go there again after the trial is long completed. But they will not get away with one thing – lamenting the self-defeating utter stupidity of their number one client, who is still (to our great shame) our number one citizen.