Police question Israeli PM about foreign campaign donations
By ARON HELLER
The Associated Press
Friday, May 2, 2008
JERUSALEM -- Police questioned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Friday in an investigation of campaign donations by a U.S. citizen - the fifth high-profile probe involving the Israeli leader whose popularity has badly suffered because of the repeated charges of corruption.
Olmert's office predicted he would weather the latest storm, but it threatened to further weaken his hold on power and potentially derail peace talks with Palestinians.
With a court-imposed gag order limiting information about the investigation, it isn't clear what allegations police are looking into, but Israeli law restricts how much politicians can get from donors. Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's son, Omri, is in jail for receiving donations that far exceeded the ceiling.
Olmert was questioned under caution, indicating police believed their interrogation could result in an indictment. If Olmert was indicted, he would have to resign. A decision on formal charges was at least months away.
Investigators arrived at Olmert's official residence in Jerusalem at midmorning and questioned him for 90 minutes, police said. Police would not disclose further information, citing the gag order.
Olmert's office said the questions dealt with donations raised by an American citizen between 1999 and 2002, before Olmert became prime minister. The money was meant to finance elections for the mayorship of Jerusalem and primaries in Olmert's former political party, Likud, the office said.
Olmert, a former Jerusalem mayor, was elected prime minister two years ago and heads another party, Kadima.
"The prime minister answered all of the investigators' questions on the subject, and will continue to cooperate with all legal authorities to the extent he is required to do so," the statement from Olmert's office said.
Another statement from Olmert's office Thursday said he "is convinced that with the discovery of the truth in the police investigation, the suspicions against him will dissipate."
Olmert is already a suspect in several corruption affairs involving real estate deals and questionable political appointments. He has been questioned several times in the past by police but has never been charged.
Labor party lawmaker Shelly Yachimovich, a member of Olmert's governing coalition, called the scope of charges swirling around the prime minister "unprecedented" and said he should suspend himself immediately.
"It has been proven beyond any doubt that the prime minister can't be under serial investigations and also suspected of crimes and also lead the country," she told Israel Radio.
Gideon Saar, a lawmaker in the opposition Likud, which has a big lead over Olmert's party in opinion polls, urged Labor to quit the Olmert-led government of "serial suspects" - a move that could cause the government to fall and force early elections.
"Olmert is the most-investigated prime minister in the history of Israel, and he is surrounded by people whose are related to the greatest number of criminal affairs in the history of Israel," Saar said.
Yoel Hasson, a Kadima lawmaker, came to Olmert's defense.
"From past experiences, we know that all the investigations started with a lot of noise and ended with nothing," he said. "The political system should not get hysterical and take brash political actions that will unsettle the government."
Israel's attorney general has ordered two criminal investigation into suspicions that Olmert acted improperly while he was trade minister. He is also suspected of improprieties in the purchase of a house in Jerusalem.
In November, police recommended closing another case involving allegations that he tried to steer a government bank sale in the direction of supporters.
Some of Olmert's close political allies have also had legal troubles. His finance minister had to step down under embezzlement suspicions, and another - now the country's vice premier - was convicted of sexual misconduct for forcibly kissing a female soldier.
