It’s not getting very much publicity in the English language Israeli media, but Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sat through hours and hours of questioning in his involvement (and likely leadership role) in a corruption scandal (see the English Google translate version here). When Olmert served as mayor, city officials allegedly received hundreds of millions (and possibly over a billion) in bribes to approve construction in certain areas, but particularly for the Holyland real estate project.
The content of the questions and answers are still unknown, but the length of the interrogation suggests that Olmert knows a lot, the anti-Fraud unit is launching a thorough investigation, and this case isn’t going anywhere.
Israeli officials have long been embroiled in corruption scandals, but no former Prime Ministers have yet been thrown in jail over the probes, albeit multiple leaders have resigned. The scandals — which led to Olmert’s resignation and the ascension of Binyamin Netanyahu to head the country — are not going away and will assuredly result in prosecutions, and possible the imprisonment of Olmert.