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Use the full rigor of the law, now By Haaretz Editorial Tags: Ehud Olmert It has been made clear to the Israeli public that the current investigation of the prime minister, details of which are not yet public, is different from the numerous other investigations into his affairs. Several factors create this impression: the news blackout on the questioning of the prime minister despite a promise from the police that they would announce any future investigations; the report by Channel 2's Guy Peleg about the investigation, without mentioning the investigation's topic; the statement by the Justice Ministry spokesman on Friday about the prime minister being interrogated under caution, saying that the probe "dealt with issues that were not investigated in the past"; and a court's comprehensive ban on publication. That is why Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was justified in commenting yesterday on the wave of rumors sweeping the country. The wave's height will depend on the media and the extent to which the ban on publication is upheld. Various publications have revealed a little but covered up a great deal, leaving many question marks about the nature and extent of the new affair. The justification for maintaining a ban on publication has to be examined anew every day, because every day new information arrives and details are published about the investigation into other people in the affair. These details, by their very nature, raise questions about how necessary it is to have such a comprehensive ban. Failure to remove the ban, or narrow it, despite the wave of rumors and the fact we are talking about an investigation of the person who heads the public and political system, is not consistent with the public's right to information. This elementary right can be pushed aside only in the face of near certainty that publication could significantly undermine the investigation's essential needs. Advertisement The police investigation is being conducted under the guidance of the state prosecutor and attorney general. An investigation of this kind requires great caution and meticulousness before conclusions are drawn. Special caution is called for because of the great influence an investigation of the prime minister has on public and political life. This caution does not justify foot-dragging in the investigation of the prime minister, who is supposed to take care of the country's affairs, particularly during times like now, when he is needed at state ceremonies and to host VIPs from around the world. The investigation of the prime minister must be completed without delay, at least as far as the affair's main points are concerned. These points justified, in the opinion of the law-enforcement authorities, urgent action on the matter. The attorney general cannot now avoid upholding his public obligation to examine the evidence and formulate a position. The attorney general must publish a statement on whether the material justifies him to say that it is "temporarily" impossible for the prime minister to fulfill his duties. The Basic Law on the Government gives the prime minister 100 days of grace to continue his term of office while a deputy steps in for him. The Justice Ministry spokesman made it clear that, at a meeting held on Friday, no position was taken about whether Olmert should continue in office. Taking a stand on this substantive issue cannot be delayed for many days more. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Shimon goes green Peres says to fight terror Israel should reduce its dependence on oil. Voices of heroism IDF releases audio recordings from famed 1976 Entebbe raid.

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