According to a report broadcast Tuesday night by Channel 10 television news, State Prosecutor Eran Shendar will instruct the police to investigate Prime Minister Olmert's alleged illegal involvement in the public tender for the purchase of Bank Leumi. In addition, the investigation may focus on three other cases of alleged corruption involving the prime minister.
The Channel 10 report said the Attorney General's Office will make the announcement of the investigation upon Olmert's return from his ongoing three-day state visit to China.
Prime Minister Olmert has thus far refused to provide any immediate reaction to the report - finding himself in a very awkward position in the midst of an official visit to an important world power. Sources close to him said that it is nothing more than speculation and analysis, not reliable foreknowledge, and that no information regarding an impending criminal investigation was given to the prime minister or his staff.
Ynet News is given over to speculating on whether Olmert should resign if he finds himself the target of a criminal investigation which I suppose one why to get rid of him without an election.
As much as it could be considered a good thing for Olmert to resign, I am not sure that anyone who is currently standing in line to step up and fill Olmert’s shoes, (without a general election being held) would do the job better than Olmert currently has. The possible succession candidates for endless disasters are potentially more horrendous than Olmert running around the world milking cows as Prime Minister of Israel.
1 comment:
Kate, I don't know what is scarier:
a continued Olmert gov't,
Olmert's potential successors,
Or,
that picture you've put up!
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