Israeli PM Investigated For Payments
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's political future may be in doubt after fresh accusations surfaced yesterday that he illegally accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from a New York businessman, The Associated Press reports today.
Olmert said he would step down if indicted. And in an interview with Lally Weymouth of Newsweek and The Post, Olmert said he was giving thought to the "ramifications" of resigning.
"I don't really see that this will bring any better outcome for the country at this point," Olmert said in the interview. "Not that a person is indispensable or irreplaceable...But given the circumstances right now, I think it will not do good that I step down at this point. I have to think about it. I have to think about the possible ramifications of an early retirement."
The latest police probe into Olmert's finances, the fifth in the past two years, is focusing on whether the prime minister took cash for campaigns over at least a six-year stretch when he was Jerusalem's mayor and minister of trade for former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Israeli police said Morris "Moshe" Talansky, a 75-year-old financier from Long Island, is suspected of giving money to Olmert directly or through his associates.
By The Editors |
May 9, 2008; 7:12 PM ET
International
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Posted by: shneur | May 10, 2008 12:42 PM
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moshe talansky seems to be a controversial figure, embroiled in many lawsuits. ehud olmert should have known better. "he who lays down with dogs can expect to get fleas".