Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., July 27, 2008 Tamuz 24, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:55 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Defense Minister Ehud Barak. (Tomer Appelbaum) Last update - 01:52 27/07/2008 Barak: Law enforcement system must be protected from Olmert's assaults By Yossi Verter, Mazal Mualem and Tomer Zarchin, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Barak, Dichter, Israel  Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Friday said that the freedom and the command of law enforcement authorities must be protected, in reference to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's response to recent allegations he was obstructing the corruption investigations against him by failing to cooperate with police investigators. "The courts, the police and the state prosecution must be protected from attempts to harm their authority and their freedom," Barak said at a Labor Party conference Friday. "Over recent days, we have seen a renewed assault against the law enforcement authorities," he added, warning that the "prosecution, police and the courts are essential bodies in any democracy." Olmert, for his part, complained earlier this week that he was being tried in a court of public opinion and that various leaks and "tricks" being employed in the investigations against him were tantamount to a public hanging. Advertisement "None of the possessors of a conscience, the moralizers, the eye-rollers and the purists that defend the foundations of justice and the judicial system have said a single word," Olmert said during a discussion at his office. "First they picked a target, then they decided on a punishment and then they drew a circle around me and only after that did they begin the process that usually serves as the basis for a trial." "I've made mistakes," Olmert went on to say, "but this isn't the arena in which to judge my mistakes and this is not the way. Not in the media, not via vicious leaks and press conferences." Earlier Friday, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter also responded to Olmert's complaints, which were made public in most Israeli media outlets, saying "I reject with disgust the aggressive assault this morning in all the media outlets by the prime minister against the law enforcement system. These attacks will not weaken the police or the prosecutors nor will they deter them from carrying out the sacred work that we, including the prime minister, have tasked them with." Dichter, a member of Olmert's Kadima Party, plans to vy for leadership of the party in the upcoming primaries. Journalist petitions High Court to review PM's datebook Journalist Yoav Yitzhak asked the High Court of Justice on Friday to instruct Olmert to hand over his datebook for judicial review. Yitzhak claims that Olmert is mocking police and Attorney General Menachem Mazuz when he claims not to be available for questioning in the ongoing corruption investigation against him. According to Yitzhak, opening Olmert's appointment calendar will provide proof of that. The request is part of a petition Yitzhak filed with the High Court, in which he asked the court to declare the prime minister incapacitated for a pre-determined period of time, during which he would be questioned every day in regard to all six open investigations against him. Yitzhak also asked that Olmert be compelled to comply with short notice summons for questioning should the investigation require it. Olmert this week notified police that he will agree to be questioned again next Friday for two hours. In his petition, Yitzhak asserted two hours was not enough time to advance the investigation, and added that Olmert should be questioned for five or six hours at a time. Attorney General Mazuz on Thursday criticized the prime minister saying that he was deliberately obstructing the investigation against him. However, in regard to the petition calling for Olmert to be declared incapacitated, Mazuz reiterated his previous assertion that Olmert's continued service as prime minister is not a legal issue, but rather a political one. Related articles: Have they no decency? AG Mazuz: Olmert obstructing graft probes against him Police: Olmert travel expenses probe likely to yield indictment Bookmark to del.icio.us   Former top spy speaks Ex-Mossad chief Halevy says a strike on Iran would affect Israel for 100 years. Trying Hitler Did a light sentence in a Munich trial pave the way for Hitler's rise to power?   1.   All politicians are crooked 22:51  |  Natallie Durson 25/07/08   2.   Just Because Barak Is A Decorated Soldier Doesn`t Mean Hes Smart 00:45  |  Living In Rishon 26/07/08   3.   Trial by media. 03:39  |  Maureen Ann 26/07/08   4.   And Israel must be protected from the entire corrupt gang 05:12  |  Arie 26/07/08   5.   Olmert COMPLAINS..... 09:18  |  Dagma 26/07/08   6.   Is Olmert asking to be pardoned for his few `mistakes.... 09:27  |  Dolly 26/07/08   7.   barak 11:32  |  gavriel eskel 26/07/08   8.   Step down if to busy for truth 11:38  |  Robert Stewart 26/07/08   9.   Both #2 & #7 can`t read English. 13:55  |  S 26/07/08   10.   Re S #9 15:12  |  Esther 26/07/08   11.   Is Olmert`s RESIGNATION a Bargaining Point 17:03  |  The Threadmill 26/07/08   12.   Olmert allows only TWO HOURS to be questioned 19:40  |  justiceforall 26/07/08   13.   Re #1:"Olmert has angered the wrong faction in Israel" 20:56  |  Esther 26/07/08   14.   The right to silence 21:47  |  Binyamin Dissen 26/07/08   15.   To Esther # 13 - Olmert is soon to learn.... 22:02  |  Dagma 26/07/08   16.   Olmert to take `leave of Absence`.....? 22:11  |  charlie 26/07/08

Read & React Obama to PM: Iran action legitimate only if talks fail Responses: 212 Report: Ex-Mossad chief says strike on Iran could 'affect us for 100 years' Responses: 218 Iran convoy attacked reportedly while taking arms to Hezbollah Responses: 170 Report: PA mulling unilateral declaration of statehood Responses: 185 Shin Bet head Diskin: Truce with Hamas unlikely to hold Responses: 103 Rosner's Domain Barack Obama, the fashionable darling of the Israeli left The Lebanese are undercutting goodwill in Washington (WTR) Is Jimmy Carter 'tone-deaf' to Jewish sensibilities? (WTR) Will Lebanon pay the price for the prisoner swap deal? More Headlines 00:29 Hamas accuses Mohammed Dahlan's group for carrying out deadly Gaza blast 14:33 Report: Ahmadinejad says Iran now has 6,000 centrifuges 01:05 Security sources: Israeli prisons are training grounds for Hamas terrorists 21:22 5 drown, including 12-year-old boy, in fatal weekend on Israel's beaches 19:23 Did outcome of early Hitler trial alter the course of history? 21:49 Friends, coworkers remember beloved teacher killed in car accident in India Saturday 07:27 Report: Ex-Mossad chief says strike on Iran could 'affect us for 100 years' 12:21 Lebanese factions clash in north for second day, as death toll rises to eight 01:52 Barak: Law enforcement system must be protected from Olmert's assaults 05:24 Report: PA mulling unilateral declaration of statehood 10:56 IDF commander: We must deal with settler 'provocateurs' Previous Editions Select Day 25 jul 24 jul 23 jul 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul

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