Public Security Min. urges freezing probes into PM conduct - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Tue., October 02, 2007 ,

Israel Time: 01:43 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Print Edition

Diplomacy

Defense

Arts & Leisure

Real Estate

Jewish World

National

Advertising

Magazine

Week's End

Business

Opinion

Rosner's Domain

Anglo File

Books

Travel

del.icio.us

Digg It! new

Public Security Min. urges freezing probes into PM conduct

By Jonathan Lis

Investigators are expected to question Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the following days on suspicions he manipulated the Bank Leumi privatization process. In a first reference to the affair, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter told Haaretz he has no problem overseeing the organization probing his colleague's actions.

Dichter, who had served as the chief of the Shin Bet security service, is among Kadima's top officials, and is considered to one of the ruling party's heavyweights. As Public Security Minister, he is in charge of the chief of police.

	Advertisement

Some would argue that for Dichter, handling the body entrusted to look into Olmert's actions - and those of a long list of Kadima officials who are suspected of foul play - is like being between a rock and hard place.

After all, Dichter is the top executive authority responsible for approving promotions for police officers, including the prime minister's investigators. But in an interview for Haaretz, Dichter says he does not view his situation as a particularly problematic predicament. He stresses that the investigators have nothing to worry about as far as their careers are concerned.

Dichter says it would be preferable if the attorney general would put the probes against Olmert on ice until Olmert finishes his term. Furthermore, he said he believes Israeli politics could benefit from a special procedure - which would be enacted into law - that would introduce rigid criteria for initiating a criminal investigation into the actions of senior officials.

Dichter proposes freezing other offenses until the suspected officials reach the end of their terms. As for the statute of limitations, Dichter suggested a freeze on that, too, for the duration of the official's term in office.

The prime minister is currently being investigated for his actions on three, possibly four, different affairs. Can you say which ones should be suspended and which should be pursued?

"I'm not familiar with the particulars of the cases, so I can't really say. But in any event, I am not the legal authority that should determine the severity of the alleged offenses," Dichter said.

"When the Israeli public goes to the ballot boxes, they're not electing a superman to lead them but a man made out of flesh and blood. You take that man and you chain a ball to his leg. Now he has to deal with leading the country, and also devote attention to this other private matter." Does this diminish his performance as prime minister?

"That's just it. We pick him for this triathlon called the premiership, but has to get through it with dead weight."

Should Olmert step down for as long as the police are looking into his actions? Can he go on like this?

"Olmert is the only man who knows how true the suspicions against him are. So if he feels that he's being wrongfully suspected or accused, he has no reason to step down. Nor should other officials."

Would you step down if you had three criminal investigations into your actions?

"That's a very personal question. If I had an investigation launched against me for something I was sure I did not commit, I would not step down from a ministerial position unless the law required me to do so. A politician who's certain of his innocence has no reason to step down from office."

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Lights out
	Electric company cancels emergency bond issue due to credit rating reduction fears.


	No free lunches
	Accountant General Zelekha demands VIPs pay taxes on their free medical benefits.

Today Online


	Israeli official: Death of Gaza boy Mohammed Al Dura was staged
	Responses: 474


	Amira Hass: Jews who decline to protest Israel's apartheid
	Responses: 181


	Israel vexed over Egypt letting 80 Hamas men enter Gaza Strip
	Responses: 112


	Ultra-Orthodox school bars girl over 'mother's immodesty'
	Responses: 102


	Shmuel Rosner: U.S. Jews are in great danger. Here's proof
	Responses: 92

More Headlines
00:52 At least three Palestinians killed in blast near Hamas Gaza HQ


20:43 Barak backs IDF Chief's right to query release of jailed Gazans


21:04 IDF lifts censorship of Sept. 6 IAF strike on target inside Syria


22:57 Father, 2 of his children killed in road accident in Jordan Valley


22:13 American prof. questions role of halakha in modern legal system


22:03 Satellite TV subscriber sues 'yes' for NIS 122M over faulty service


19:21 Assad: Syria not behind killing of anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians


19:49 Hundreds of right-wing activists begin marching to ruins of Homesh


17:35 Rights group: Court refuses to help Gazan resume studies abroad


17:15 Two suspected of seeking to extort money from footballer's father