In yet another of the investigations ongoing against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the Israel Investment Center, dating to his tenure as minister of industry and trade, police are recommending an indictment against Mr. Olmert. This joins statements from police of an imminent indictment in the Rishon Tours and Talansky envelopes investigations.

As is the procedure in such matters, the final determination as to a criminal indictment is made by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz. Charges in this case include breach of trust and fraud.

This case dates back about a decade, dealing with a business proposal to construct a joint Israeli-Jordanian entertainment project. Nothing came of it, and in 2002, recommendations were made for Israel to move ahead alone. Coincidentally, the project was run by the Israel Investment Center which was headed by none other than Uri Messer, Olmert’s longtime close confidant, partner and attorney.

In recent statements to the media by Olmert and spokespersons, the prime minister maintains his innocence, stating unequivocally that he never took any illegal money.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)