Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has come under fire over allegations that he was secretly given $500,000 in bribes or illegal campaign donations. Defense Minister Ehud Barak has called for Olmert to resign based on his allegedly receiving illicit money from U.S. financier Morris Talansky.According to Israeli prosecutors, there is a South American element to the case against Olmert. On Friday, the Associated Press reported that investigators were checking if Olmert asked “an unidentified Israeli diplomat in South America” to help an unspecified technological project Talansky was involved in. Wednesday’s New York Times gave more details:
(In October 2005), Mr. Olmert sent a letter to Chile’s defense minister, according to Mr. Lador, who implied that it was in connection with a satellite company in which Mr. Talansky had some interest. Mr. Talansky denied knowing of the letter.
Regardless of what the courts decide Olmert may not survive as P.M. for too long as his coalition government falls apart and public sentiment grows against him.
Sources- Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, UPI, Reuters UK
Image- BBC News (“Mr. Olmert denies the allegation that he accepted bribes”)
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