Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says a new police investigation into his conduct won't keep him from doing his job. Olmert was questioned "under caution" by police Friday in connection with a new probe whose substance has been subjected to a gag order.
In an unusual procedure, Israel's Attorney-General Meni Mazuz ordered the probe and gave Olmert only 48 hours notice. Reports on Channel Two and in the Yediot Aharanot newspaper indicate that the investigation involves an alleged cash payoff by an unnamed American during Olmert's tenure as Ministry of Industry and Trade, reportedly to obtain favors of some kind.
In his first public comments on Sunday, Olmert said the investigation has unleashed "a wave of rumors," most of them "malicious and wicked." He spoke at the weekly meeting of his Cabinet. The gag order was also applied to reporting of some of his comments.
It is generally understood in the Israeli media that the most recent accusation may be more serious that the previous three that are still ongoing.
Olmert has vowed to continue on in office despite calls in his own party and among his coalition partners that he should step down or at least suspend himself until he is cleared of suspicions in the various corruption cases.
Meanwhile Shula Zaken, former head of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Office, was questioned as a suspect on Sunday by the National Fraud Investigation Unit for the second time in a week.
Zaken was suspended from her post as bureau chief about a year ago after police suspected her of intervening in the appointment of senior officials at the Israeli Tax Authority, and of exploiting this connection to obtain tax benefits for cronies.
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