Last update - 00:00 18/04/2007
AG to wait to decide whether to recommend Hirchson step down
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz is planning to wait and see if Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson resigns on his own or is dismissed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, before he states whether Hirchson should resign due to the criminal investigation against him.
Regardless, Mazuz is likely to formulate his stance only in 10 days, before the state presents its response to petitions to the High Court of Justice demanding Hirchson be dismissed from his post.
Mazuz intends to hold deliberations on the issue after police question Hirchson again, for what is expected to be the last time.
The decision on whether to force Hirchson to resign will be based not just on the severity of the accusations against him, but also on the involvement of Israel Tax Authority investigators in the criminal probe.
The Tax Authority operates under the Finance Ministry, meaning that Hirchson is in charge of those investigating him.
However, the Tax Authority investigators are only marginally involved in the Hirchson probe, and they are not dealing with the main accusations against him. Thus, Mazuz may not feel this justifies forcing Hirchson to resign.