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Ehud Olmert, Former Israeli Prime Minister, Sentenced To 6 Years In Prison
For Corruption
| by JOSEF FEDERMAN
Posted: 05/13/2014 4:29 am EDT Updated: 05/13/2014 2:59 pm EDT
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/13/ehud-olmert-sentenced-to-6-years-in-prison_n_5314234.html
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An
Israeli court sentenced former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to six years in
prison for his role in a bribery scandal, capping the stunning downfall of a
politician who just a few years ago hobnobbed at the White House and claimed to
be close to reaching a historic peace agreement with the Palestinians.
Israeli court sentenced former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to six years in
prison for his role in a bribery scandal, capping the stunning downfall of a
politician who just a few years ago hobnobbed at the White House and claimed to
be close to reaching a historic peace agreement with the Palestinians.
Olmert, the first prime
minister sentenced to prison, is set to become the latest in a string of top
Israeli politicians to serve time for serious crimes. The scandals have fueled
a feeling of public sorrow over the state of the country's political system
mixed with relief that no one is above the law.
minister sentenced to prison, is set to become the latest in a string of top
Israeli politicians to serve time for serious crimes. The scandals have fueled
a feeling of public sorrow over the state of the country's political system
mixed with relief that no one is above the law.
"It's not an easy
day," said Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who served as Olmert's foreign
minister, adding that the decision nonetheless sent an important message.
"I have full faith in the court and the law enforcement system, and that's
how the Israeli public should feel too," she said.
day," said Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who served as Olmert's foreign
minister, adding that the decision nonetheless sent an important message.
"I have full faith in the court and the law enforcement system, and that's
how the Israeli public should feel too," she said.
Olmert was convicted in March
in a wide-ranging case that accused him of accepting bribes to promote a
controversial real-estate project in Jerusalem. He was charged for acts while
he was mayor of Jerusalem and national trade minister, years before he became
prime minister in 2006.
in a wide-ranging case that accused him of accepting bribes to promote a
controversial real-estate project in Jerusalem. He was charged for acts while
he was mayor of Jerusalem and national trade minister, years before he became
prime minister in 2006.
Olmert has denied wrongdoing,
and his lawyer said they would appeal Tuesday's sentence to the Supreme Court.
and his lawyer said they would appeal Tuesday's sentence to the Supreme Court.
The six-year sentence was the
maximum sought by prosecutors. Olmert also was ordered to pay a $290,000 fine.
Judge David Rozen, a Tel Aviv district court judge, accused Olmert of
undermining the public's trust as he delivered the punishment.
maximum sought by prosecutors. Olmert also was ordered to pay a $290,000 fine.
Judge David Rozen, a Tel Aviv district court judge, accused Olmert of
undermining the public's trust as he delivered the punishment.
"A public servant who
accepts bribes is akin to a traitor," Rozen said. "This is a man who
was on top of the world. He served as prime minister, the most important
position, and from there he reached the position of a man convicted of criminal
offenses."
accepts bribes is akin to a traitor," Rozen said. "This is a man who
was on top of the world. He served as prime minister, the most important
position, and from there he reached the position of a man convicted of criminal
offenses."
Olmert appeared stunned as he
walked out of the courthouse without speaking to reporters. Rozen ordered him
and several co-defendants to report to prison on Sept. 1.
walked out of the courthouse without speaking to reporters. Rozen ordered him
and several co-defendants to report to prison on Sept. 1.
His spokesman, Amir Dan, said
an "unjust verdict" was delivered against an innocent man. He
described Olmert as "a man who never took bribes, who contributed so much
to the country."
an "unjust verdict" was delivered against an innocent man. He
described Olmert as "a man who never took bribes, who contributed so much
to the country."
The sentencing sealed the
downfall of a man who over four decades transformed himself from a
sharp-tongued backbencher in the hard-line Likud Party into a global statesman
whose push for peace with the Palestinians was cut short by his legal troubles.
downfall of a man who over four decades transformed himself from a
sharp-tongued backbencher in the hard-line Likud Party into a global statesman
whose push for peace with the Palestinians was cut short by his legal troubles.
Olmert was a longtime fixture
in Israel's hard-line right wing when he began taking a more moderate line
toward the Palestinians when he was deputy prime minister a decade ago. He
played a leading role in Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005.
in Israel's hard-line right wing when he began taking a more moderate line
toward the Palestinians when he was deputy prime minister a decade ago. He
played a leading role in Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005.
He became prime minister in
January 2006 after then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a debilitating
stroke. He subsequently led their newly formed Kadima Party to victory in
parliamentary elections on a platform of pushing further peace moves with the
Palestinians.
January 2006 after then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a debilitating
stroke. He subsequently led their newly formed Kadima Party to victory in
parliamentary elections on a platform of pushing further peace moves with the
Palestinians.
A gifted orator, Olmert
crossed a series of taboos while in office — warning that Israel could become
like apartheid South Africa if it continued its occupation of the Palestinians
and expressing readiness to relinquish control of parts of the holy city of
Jerusalem as part of a peace deal.
crossed a series of taboos while in office — warning that Israel could become
like apartheid South Africa if it continued its occupation of the Palestinians
and expressing readiness to relinquish control of parts of the holy city of
Jerusalem as part of a peace deal.
Olmert led his government to
the Annapolis peace conference in November 2007 — launching more than a year of
ambitious, but unsuccessful peace talks with the Palestinians. Olmert enjoyed a
warm relationship with then U.S. President George W. Bush.
the Annapolis peace conference in November 2007 — launching more than a year of
ambitious, but unsuccessful peace talks with the Palestinians. Olmert enjoyed a
warm relationship with then U.S. President George W. Bush.
Olmert has said he made
unprecedented concessions to the Palestinians during those talks and was close
to reaching an agreement at the time of his resignation, though the
Palestinians have said his assessment was overly optimistic.
unprecedented concessions to the Palestinians during those talks and was close
to reaching an agreement at the time of his resignation, though the
Palestinians have said his assessment was overly optimistic.
Despite his ambitious agenda,
Olmert's term was clouded by the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier who was
captured by Gaza militants in a cross-border raid and an inconclusive war against
Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. Both incidents occurred shortly after he took
office. Olmert also launched a military invasion of the Gaza Strip in late 2008
that drew heavy international criticism.
Olmert's term was clouded by the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier who was
captured by Gaza militants in a cross-border raid and an inconclusive war against
Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. Both incidents occurred shortly after he took
office. Olmert also launched a military invasion of the Gaza Strip in late 2008
that drew heavy international criticism.
But it was corruption
allegations, which had dogged him throughout his career, which ultimately
proved his undoing. He was forced to announce his resignation in late 2008 and
left office early the following year.
allegations, which had dogged him throughout his career, which ultimately
proved his undoing. He was forced to announce his resignation in late 2008 and
left office early the following year.
Olmert also faced a trial on
separate charges of accepting illicit funds from an American supporter and
double-billing Jewish groups for trips abroad. In that case, he was cleared in
2012 of the most serious charges but convicted on a lesser count of breach of
trust for steering jobs and contracts to clients of business partners and got a
suspended one-year sentence.
separate charges of accepting illicit funds from an American supporter and
double-billing Jewish groups for trips abroad. In that case, he was cleared in
2012 of the most serious charges but convicted on a lesser count of breach of
trust for steering jobs and contracts to clients of business partners and got a
suspended one-year sentence.
That verdict was seen as a
moral victory, and Olmert had signaled an intention to return to politics if he
could beat the charges in the real estate scandal. He had been seen as one of
the few politicians capable of mounting a challenge as a centrist alternative
to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
moral victory, and Olmert had signaled an intention to return to politics if he
could beat the charges in the real estate scandal. He had been seen as one of
the few politicians capable of mounting a challenge as a centrist alternative
to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But following Tuesday's
sentencing, any hopes of a political comeback appear to be over.
sentencing, any hopes of a political comeback appear to be over.
Emmanuel Gross, an expert on
criminal law at the University of Haifa, said Olmert's appeal has little chance
of success. He said the prison sentence, while somewhat high, still fell within
standard legal norms, and said the Supreme Court does not typically overrule a
lower court's factual findings.
criminal law at the University of Haifa, said Olmert's appeal has little chance
of success. He said the prison sentence, while somewhat high, still fell within
standard legal norms, and said the Supreme Court does not typically overrule a
lower court's factual findings.
"I don't think he has a
good chance to convince the Supreme Court to change the verdict," Gross
said.
good chance to convince the Supreme Court to change the verdict," Gross
said.
Olmert now appears set to
join a former Israeli president, ex-Cabinet minister and several lawmakers who
have all gone to prison in recent years.
join a former Israeli president, ex-Cabinet minister and several lawmakers who
have all gone to prison in recent years.
Aharon Franco, commissioner
of Israel's prison service, said his agency has begun discussions in recent
weeks on how to prepare for Olmert's arrival. He called it an "exceptional
case" and said officials would have to consider his safety and privacy.
of Israel's prison service, said his agency has begun discussions in recent
weeks on how to prepare for Olmert's arrival. He called it an "exceptional
case" and said officials would have to consider his safety and privacy.
"It is a sad day. What
else can I say," President Shimon Peres said during an official visit in
Norway.
else can I say," President Shimon Peres said during an official visit in
Norway.
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