Public Security Min. urges freezing probes into PM conduct

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.

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."