 |
 |
 |
|
|
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (Flash90)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By Israel Insider staff October 15, 2007 |
|
| |
 Bookmark to del.icio.us |
| |
Key players in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's coalition are calling on the prime minister to step down following Attorney General Menachem Mazuz's order for a third concurrent criminal probe into Olmert's affairs.
Olmert is being investigated on charges of misusing his position as industry and trade minister between 2003 and 2005 to grant political favors, Haaretz reported.
"The main suspicions include Olmert's involvement in the decisions of the [Industry and Commerce Ministry's] Investment Center, and in political appointments and other help to political supporters in various public bodies, which allegedly took place during his term as minister of industry and commerce," read a statement issued by Justice Ministry spokesman Moshe Cohen, according to the Jerusalem Post.
The investigation will be run parallel to two other probes -- one investigation of charges that Olmert, during his stint as finance minister, attempted to fix the sale of Israel's second largest bank, Leumi, in favor of two friends. Police are also investigating Olmert on suspicions that he received a significant discount on his Jerusalem home from a real estate developer in exchange for helping the developer gain construction permits in Jerusalem.
Head of the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee, Ophir Pines-Paz of Labor called on Olmert to suspend himself from his post, saying "the prime minister is breaking records as the subject of serial investigations. Never have there been four concurrent criminal investigations into the actions of a single political figure in Israel." Pines asked to convene the Labor party for a discussion on "the [party's] continued partnership with Olmert."
Other Labor MKs, among them MK Shelly Yachimovich, urged Labor to withdraw from Olmert's coalition.
"The moment is coming when the Labor Party will no longer be able to serve as fig leaf to cover up Olmert's corruption, and the party must seriously consider withdrawing from the government," Yachimovich said.
MKs from across the political spectrum are expressing outrage at Olmert's slew of criminal investigations. Gideon Sa'ar, the chairman of the Likud faction, said that Olmert was "the most investigated prime minister, with the lowest popularity," and therefore, "he has no right to negotiate the fate of Jerusalem, and Judea and Samaria, and it is doubtful whether he can go on managing the affairs of the state."
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
