President Reuven Rivlin announced he is rejecting a request for early release by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Olmert was hoping the president would accept his request for immediate release from prison.
In his response, President Rivlin mentions the difficulties of one who was atop of the pyramid and has now fallen to his present status. He also acknowledges the significant contribution made by Olmert to Israeli society during a long career. However, explains the president, he is compelled to consider the conviction handed down by the court and the sentence handed down against the former prime minister.
“The power of pardon of the President of the State is not an appeal to the court, and therefore, as stated, there is no room to grant an amnesty request by way of immediate release from prison” writes the president in his response.
Mr. Rivlin reminds the former prime minister that he will have his chance before a parole board where he may ask to remove one-third of his term after paying his debt to society.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
Way to go!
His haughty attitude has never changed. He thinks the world owes him! As his is his sentence was a joke of the system. If it were a chareidi convicted of similar crimes jail time would be so much more!
Well at least there is some good simchak news to end off Adar with. Olmert despises anything to do with genuine Yiddishkeit and was dealt with extremely leniently for the long string of crimes he was convicted of. It would have been a slap in the face to all law abiding citizens if this criminal was allowed out on early release