Olmert Accused of Bribery; Refuses to Resign Unless Indicted

Israeli is facing yet another high-ranking official accused of bribery. This time it is Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has admitted to taking cash from New York financier Morris Talansky. Any indictment would likely be set back for peace efforts given Olmert’s support for negotiations with Palestinians.

Olmert went on national television to deny taking bribes. Reports indicate that he accepted thousands of dollars from Talansky. He insists that Talansky was financing his campaigns and he did not accept the money for himself. On the face of the allegations, there still appears a basic element missing: use of official authority or powers to help Talansky. The question becomes bribery to do what?

Nevertheless, after the jailing of the son of Ariel Sharon, there is obviously a problem in Israeli politics with both campaign financing laws and corruption.

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