Israeli Police Launch New Olmert Investigation
JERUSALEM - Israel’s attorney-general ordered police on Sunday to launch a new criminal investigation into Ehud Olmert’s conduct in government before he became prime minister.
A string of corruption probes — three in all — have raised questions about Olmert’s political survival as he prepares for a U.S.-led Middle East conference next month on Palestinian statehood.
Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz said in a statement that the latest investigation would focus on Olmert’s tenure as minister of industry, trade and labor.
Police will investigate whether Olmert appointed several of his close political associates to the Medium and Small Enterprises Authority and other government bodies.
Olmert will also be investigated about whether he helped secure special funding for a factory which was represented by his ex-law partner, the statement said.
The latest investigation dominated Israeli television broadcasts, eclipsing news of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit to prepare for the peace conference.
A statement issued by Olmert’s office said that the new investigation was “needless” and that it would ultimately lead nowhere.
The investigation was the latest to target Olmert, whom police questioned last week over suspicions that he, as finance minister, tailored a sale offer for state-owned Bank Leumi to favor a friend.
Another investigation is focused on whether Olmert received a discount on the price of a home he purchased in return for using his influence in Jerusalem’s city hall to speed up building permits for the contractor who sold it to him.
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Well hurry it up already. Let’s get this wimp Olmert out of office and put Bibi back in his place.
October 15th, 2007 at 12:17 pm