Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., May 07, 2008 Iyyar 2, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:45 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

A question of timing By Yoel Marcus Tags: gag order, Ehud Olmert Only after the gag order on the case is lifted will the public know whether there was any justification for lopping off the prime minister's head in the town square. Only then will we know whether the timing of this police investigation of Ehud Olmert was so urgent and utterly critical that it couldn't wait until after the 60th anniversary celebrations. Pursuing justice come hell or high water (or "letting the law cut through the mountain," as the Talmud puts it) is not always warranted. In a country where investigations and court proceedings can drag on for months and months, if not years, the attorney general and police must have very good reasons to summon a prime minister for questioning from one moment to the next. Either they have a state witness who is liable to change his mind and skip town, or they have evidence that could disappear if they don't make it snappy. The police have estimated - estimated, because in principle, they're not allowed to leak information either - that this is the most serious accusation against Olmert yet, and one of the most solidly-based (considering that nothing came of the four, five or six previous investigations against him). To put an incumbent prime minister on trial and override democratic choice, the attorney general needs evidence that is not only ironclad, but titanium-clad, as his lawyer friend, Dr. Ram Caspi, puts it. Advertisement Is a gag order justified? Sometimes it may be needed to keep witnesses from corroborating their story. The trouble is that in the past the police themselves have violated such orders. But even without that, in a country as small as ours, there are no secrets. "No matter how tight you screw on the lid, secret talks leak," Moshe Dayan used to say. How long did it take before Israel, with its big mouth, spilled the beans and told the whole world what we didn't do in Syria? Even before anyone finds out how serious the charges are, these are not happy days for Olmert. In the cabinet, he praised the interrogators for treating him with the due respect. "On the other hand," he went on, "the country is awash in rumors and insinuations, the overwhelming majority of which are false and malicious." He spoke confidently of his innocence, and assured everyone that when everything was put into proper context, the rumors would end. Olmert, with his political wheeling and dealing, and his incredibly rich experience in police investigations, none of which have so far harmed a hair on his balding head, believes that he will also emerge from this inquiry unharmed. Maybe this time he's wrong, and maybe not. Time will tell if the police were justified in rushing to interrogate Olmert between Holocaust Day and Memorial Day, just before the 60th anniversary celebrations at which world leaders will be honoring us with their presence. True, there is no law forcing the prime minister to resign even if he is indicted. But think about how embarrassing this is - thousands of VIPs, admirers of Israel, having to shake hands with a prime minister being investigated on criminal charges. As if it weren't embarrassing enough to have a president suspected of sexual harassment and rape, and a finance minister caught stealing money, now we have a prime minister under police inquiry striving to reach a "shelf agreement" with the Palestinians. We are talking about a prime minister serving in an era of critical decisions that will affect our lives and destiny. It is positively frightening to think that between deciding whether to enter into a cease-fire with Hamas, and whether to sign an agreement with the Palestinian Authority with the blessing of the U.S. administration, Olmert will have to set aside time for consultations with his lawyers to save his own skin. And this, by the way, is hardly the first time: When Ariel Sharon decided to evacuate Gush Katif, the right wing claimed he was doing it to deflect attention from the police inquiry against him and his sons, in the Cyril Kern affair and the shady election-funding scandal. "The deeper the probe, the greater the withdrawal" was their motto back then. It is no coincidence that Likud is toying with the idea of pushing up the elections and Avigdor Lieberman is calling his ultra-right divisions to rally around the flag. While one can understand why the settlers are rubbing their hands with glee, it is not clear why Shelly Yachimovich, Zahava Gal-On and their male clones are urging Labor to pull the plug on Olmert. Let them not be so sure about how their demands will turn out and who will come to power in the end. With the peace coalition shrunken to 64 seats, and no proof as yet that Olmert has sinned, this is not the time to depose a politician who has ripened, by a fluke of history, into a leader for peace. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Raining on the parade World Likud chief calls for cancellation of Nakba Day procession. Perfect match TA court sentences 'DNA Rapist' to 25 years in prison.   1.   Pathetic 07:02  |  Michael N 06/05/08   2.   Marcus - Pursuit of "Faux Peace" Trumps Everything Else 08:25  |  Tod Zuckerman 06/05/08   3.   a very reasonable piece 13:55  |  saul a. readner 06/05/08   4.   Haaretz wanted Katzav to resign immediately 13:56  |  Ilan 06/05/08   5.   This country is a farce -from the government to the media 15:37  |  paul 06/05/08   6.   ilan 16:20  |  saul a. readner 06/05/08   7.   I`ll leave some homework for you to do yourself 17:05  |  Ilan 06/05/08   8.   ilan again 18:02  |  saul a. readner 06/05/08   9.   To Ilan #4 18:10  |  Gary S. 06/05/08   10.   Maybe a reasonable analysis would suggest.. 21:46  |  Ilan 06/05/08   11.   QUESTION OF TIMING 21:57  |  Raphael Lallouz 06/05/08

Read & React PA official: No Israeli partner in light of latest Olmert probe Responses: 107 Moshe Arens: Is Olmert pushing for peace at any price? Responses: 71 Daphna Golan: When will we listen to the Palestinians' suffering? Responses: 189 Soldier killed in Lebanon War 'finally promoted to rank of Jew' Responses: 99 More Headlines 00:47 IDF Chief: 63 years after Holocaust state's existence still questioned 00:41 Police: Gag order on probe against Olmert losing significance 23:45 PA official: No Israeli partner in light of latest Olmert probe 02:22 ANALYSIS: Gag order on PM case against public interest 02:31 Security tightens in face of Independence Day terror alerts 00:28 Fifth alternative Memorial Day ceremony held in Jerusalem 01:52 Fox clothing chain, Bar Rafaeli to fight IDF draft-dodgers 01:29 Foreign Ministry sending first aid package to Myanmar 19:24 Court orders state to explain why citizenship law won't be reversed 16:09 Barak: Probe will not affect Olmert's political decisions 00:52 Israel at 60: Population nears 7.3 million, 76% Jewish Previous Editions Select Day 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may 30 apr 29 apr 28 apr 27 apr 25 apr 24 apr 23 apr

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Products Buy Dead Sea mineral skin care and beauty products. Coupon code Haaretz for 10% off. Together Celebrating Israel's 60th The Jewish Agency and world Jewry shaping the destiny of Israel and the Jewish people. Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer The interest rates haven't changed But your profits will! Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. 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

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