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Pines-Paz: It's a tragic day for Israel when a PM is indicted
By Barak Ravid and Ofra Edelman, Haaretz Correspondents and Haaretz Service
Tags: Olmert, Israel news 

An announcement Monday by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz that he was
  • planning to file an indictment against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for corruption, pending a hearing, drew responses from across the political spectrum.

    MK Ofir Pines-Paz (Labor) said "this is a tragic day for the state of Israel and a low point like none we've ever seen. Olmert must immediately declare himself incapacitated, as he has promised publicly and explicitly. A person accused by the state of criminal offenses cannot be allowed to continue to serve as prime minister."

    MKs Zahava Gal-On (Meretz) and Zevulun Orlev (National Union-NRP) also called on Olmert to step down immediately. "Every day during which he is still in power is unwarranted because he has no public or moral authority to make political advances," Gal-On said.
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    The political right also said that Olmert does not have the political authority to head diplomatic moves in the peace process with the Palestinians. "In the two months that remain until the general elections," Orlev said, "Olmert could make fateful decisions for the wrong reasons, and therefore he must step down immediately."

    MK Ariyeh Eldad (Hatikvah) said that "the public knows that the government is currently headed by a criminal."

    He went on to say that the public is "disappointed by the law enforcement system, which is dragging its feet with its slowness and then acts amazed each day at his audacity when he continues to hand out parts of Israel to the Arabs."

    MK Michael Eitan (Likud) said that a transition government whose leader is facing possible indictment is an illegitimate government. "Olmert would do well to announce he is freezing all the political processes until a new government is elected, a government with the authority and the capability of making fateful decisions for the people of Israel."

    Olmert's media advisor Amir Dan also issued a response, evoking a previous corruption investigation against the prime minister involving Jewish American businessman Morris Talansky, saying that "after the prosecution took a difficult hit in the Talansky case and after they brought down a reigning prime minister, it is clear that the Justice Ministry will not be satisfied with anything less, and we didn't expect otherwise in this case. As it did in the Talansky case, in this case the prosecution is presenting a one-sided, incorrect version of the events that is destined to crack and collapse."

    "The very announcement, and its timing," the statement continued, "unfortunately points to inappropriate conduct - it's amazing how they are so excited that they just can't wait even a moment, as the prime minister returns from a trip to the U.S. before announcing the news. It's a planned ambush under the auspices of the law enforcement system. This is not how you treat any person, much less a prime minister."

    Olmert's attorneys also issued a statement following the announcement, saying "the prime minister rejects with both hands the allegations against him in the 'Rishontours' affair. The decision to summon the prime minister to a hearing on the matter, while other cases against him are still under investigation and no decision has been made one way or the other, is a strange, and even unlikely."

    Related articles:
  • Olmert probes: all the corruption allegations against the prime minister
  • Police head to U.S. in Olmert double-billing investigation
  • Police: Olmert travel expenses probe likely to yield indictment
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      1.   Me resign? You`re nuts. If I go down so does everyone. Hey Assad- 22:29  |  Ehud Olmert 26/11/08
      2.   if true then the probability of an attack on Iran: 0 % 22:44  |  Dave 26/11/08
      3.   Olmert Resign?? 23:40  |  Chuck 26/11/08
      4.   He will NEVER step down voluntarily--that requires some integrity 00:02  |  IW 27/11/08
      5.   idiotic 01:17  |  shimon 27/11/08
      6.   THE REAL TRADEDY... 04:09  |  Barry S. Roffman 27/11/08
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