Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., August 12, 2008 Av 11, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:24 (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

A historic role for Mazuz By Guy Rolnik Tags: Attorney General, Israel Attorney General Menachem Mazuz is right: Corruption is not inevitable. It can be fought. He's got his work cut out for him Plenty of pundits celebrated Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's recent resignation announcement as a victory for public norms. But that may be wishful thinking. A great many scandals involving the prime minister came to light in the last year. Even if none end in a conviction, however, the facts alone - at least, the uncontested ones - attest to corrupt practices. Olmert and his advisers haven't been bothered by the multiplicity of scandals. One of the most arrogant, violent and clever prime ministers we've ever had, Olmert doesn't care about public norms. He has nothing but contempt for them. Advertisement Why did he say he would resign? Perhaps because he felt the police were closing in on him, that he wouldn't be able to shake off the double-billed foreign jaunts, that this time he wouldn't be accused of mere "breach of duty" - which doesn't seem to count, in his mind - but of an actual, simple, straightforward crime: fraud under aggravated circumstances. Now comes the great test of Attorney General Menachem Mazuz. Now he has to look in the mirror and remember his role in Ehud Olmert's rise to the top. How, four years ago, he cleared former prime minister Ariel Sharon in the Greek Island affair. If Sharon hadn't gotten away scot-free from all his corruption scandals, Olmert wouldn't have slipped so easily and smoothly into the premier's seat after his predecessor sank into coma. If Mazuz hadn't sent the public the message that Sharon's corruption was tolerable, it's unlikely that a character like Olmert could have reached the highest office in the land. Now Mazuz's time has come. The temptation to close all the cases against Olmert with a pitiful plea bargain must be great. Olmert has promised to step down from the prime minister's seat, clearing the way for a deal. He'll quit, get a slap on the wrist and in a few months will return in the form of a merry businessman. His message will be clear: A little rot never killed anybody and, barring a little unpleasantness, it won't ruin your career either. At worst you can start a second one. An expression along the lines of "purge the evil from among you" appears no less than seven times in the Book of Deuteronomy: The purpose of punishment is not vengeance, but to root out evil. You can't root out evil using a plea bargain or political wheeling and dealing, saying: I quit and we all move on. The fight against public corruption requires, screams for, a public trial. A long, enervating, difficult trial in which every last piece of information in the Olmert scandals is held up to the light. A trial in which the invoices are scanned, the evidence is reviewed, the witnesses are brought to the stand. Of course, Olmert could beat the charges, either because he's innocent, because the evidence isn't conclusive, because criminal intent can't be proved or because the police or prosecution were negligent. But the possibility that he'll be found not guilty is not a reason to use against filing charges, or to rush to close a plea bargain. The legal process itself is important, especially when a (former) prime minister is the issue at stake. Take the example of Shimon Sheves, formerly a director general at the Prime Minister's Office. He was convicted of breach of duty, which means betraying the public trust - of abusing his powerful position to advance his own greater good and that of his friends, too, at the expense of the public. Sheves' conviction took place after a repeat hearing of the case. As a precondition for holding the hearing, the Supreme Court demanded that the prosecution undertake not to seek hard time for him. That was a historic mistake. The only way to institute new norms for top officials in Israel is through long terms in prison. Only such sentences can prove to the public that the law has teeth and they will clamp down equally on all offenders, regardless of their titles. Only long imprisonment will frighten or deter the thousands of public servants who control the state's resources and the taxpayers' money from breaching the public's trust. In recent months a number of corrupt politicians and commentators affiliated with people in power have suggested that incumbent prime ministers not be questioned exhaustively, because of the harm this could do to management of the state. But the damage caused to Israeli society and to the rule of law if prime ministers are rendered immune to justice would be worse. If all the claims against Olmert end up in a plea bargain and a slap on the prime minister's wrist, then we will not only have paid a heavy price in terms of governmental paralysis: We will not even be able to wield the arm of the law against the person who betrayed the public's trust. Meni Mazuz has a historic role to play in the war on corruption, which is the No. 1 enemy of Israeli society. Our economy cannot advance while corruption reigns. Leadership cannot grow, peace accords cannot be reached, the occupation cannot be ended. Mazuz fidgets uneasily in his seat when responsibility is cast onto his shoulders. He prefers to chatter about "the test of the public." The attorney general should remember that he's a member of that public. Israel is suffering from a leadership vacuum. Our ministers and Knesset members are slaves of the primaries for the most part and, even worse, of vested interests. Mazuz, on the other hand, doesn't have to be reelected. His noncontributory pension is assured. He is free to act according to the dictates of his conscience. You told us, Mazuz, that the fight against corruption is the most important mission we face. Here we stand and await your decision. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Basic training IDF soldiers who taught Georgian troops keep an eye on the recent conflict. Boot camp 200 Palestinian teens graduate from Hamas summer school, prepare for battle with Israel.

Read & React PA negotiator: Israel may make two-state solution impossible Responses: 332 Barak questions if Livni would be 'wise' choice for premiership Responses: 96 IDF vets who trained Georgia troops: War with Russia is no surprise Responses: 64 VIDEO / Young Hamas campers now ready for battle with Israel Responses: 52 IOC: Iran swimmer who quit race with Israeli competitor broke no rules Responses: 58 More Headlines 00:58 Georgia President says Russia cut country in half 21:35 Israel to shut Gaza border crossings following Qassam strike 09:07 PA negotiator: Israel may make two-state solution impossible 21:39 Israel weighs proposal for new West Bank settlement near Jerusalem 20:05 IDF vets who trained Georgia troops say war with Russia is no surprise 00:53 Olympics / After his father's death, swimmer Alon Mandel sets new Israeli record 22:34 Kosher slaughterhouse worker abuse case fuels ethical kashrut movement 08:14 Haaretz newsletter: All the news from Israel direct to your inbox 23:26 Knesset to approve higher stipends for Holocaust survivors 20:40 Arkia cancels flight meant to carry Israelis out of Georgia 20:42 Egypt's ancient pyramids at Giza get makeover 20:11 Hamas summer school graduates now ready for battle with Israel 22:03 Hamas blames Egypt for deaths of 8 Palestinians in border tunnels 17:05 Tamir infuriates rightists by removing Jabotinsky from curriculum Previous Editions Select Day 11 aug 10 aug 08 aug 07 aug 06 aug 05 aug 04 aug 03 aug 01 aug 31 jul 30 jul 29 jul

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Isaac Maimon at Dreamshoppe Special summer sale. Make an offer now. You will be surprised. MBA in Israel in English APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved