In an interview with 103FM Radio, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, expressed harsh criticism against current PM Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he acts like an escaped criminal. Olmert added that some Likud MKs are suspect of law-breaking no less harsh than Bibi.

In a conversion with radio host Nissim Mishal, Olmert emphasized that he is not “an interpreter who collects pieces of information from here and there in order to be able to complete the puzzle”. However, he explains that the nation is in the midst of a situation and “What is taking place is not the ordinary and these are not regular coalition negotiations. We are in the midst of a criminal gang which is working to secure immunity for itself”.

“Yes, certainly. I have no other words. The prime minister stands at the helm of a criminal gang and I am saying this”.

He has not been convicted yet, and if he sues you for defamation, he will have good case.

“I already said what I said before. To sue. A person who tries to bend the law, to use all the illegitimate tools that are possible to evade the need to stand trial is a fugitive, and that is exactly what Netanyahu is trying to be. He tries to be a fugitive under the cover of unreasonable procedures that undermine the foundations of the democratic existence of the State of Israel.

“The prime minister, his family and his supporters are trying to undermine the foundations of the democratic existence of the State of Israel in order to evade the fear of justice. This is criminal delinquency, and so is a criminal gang. Even heads of crime families in many cases have not been convicted by law but are still called ‘heads of crime families’ in the various interpretations because of their organized and orderly conduct, while attempting to use state tools to escape justice”.

Olmert added, “I was wronged”.

According to Olmert, even if it is legitimate to change laws in a democratic process, there are basic rights that are forbidden to touch – and that is actually the test of democracy. “In a democratic state, democracy is not only examined by the majority, but also by the basic rights of a minority that cannot be harmed – even when there is a majority to change them,” he said, quoting Prof. Aharon Barak, who argued that “there are things that cannot be changed without undermining the foundations of existence’.

Note: Aharon Barak is a retired President of the Supreme Court who was known for his ultra-libertarian views.

Olmert added that it is not a problem to discuss the issue of disqualifying laws passed by the Supreme Court in Knesset, but the timing is not appropriate. “It is possible to restrict the Supreme Court from invalidating laws enacted by the Knesset is such that under ordinary normal circumstances, regardless of a specific event, it is worthy of discussion.” He adds that in this case however, “This issue arose as a means of preventing the possibility of prosecuting the prime minister.”

In conclusion, Olmert stated, “Netanyahu is using political power with his group of servants, some of whom are suspected of equally serious crimes, and together they are trying to bend all the laws of the State of Israel in order to escape the need to deal with a proper legal process in court in order not to stand trial and enslave the state to their whims and insanity. This is unthinkable!”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)