[NYTr] Police Report on Corrupt Incompetent Olmert Postponed for Annapolis Mtg

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

AP via The Baltimore Sun - Nov 25, 2007
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.israel25nov25,0,5827057.story

Statement on Olmert postponed

Police to wait until after Md. talks for any action on corruption claims

Associated Press

JERUSALEM - Police investigating corruption allegations against Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert have postponed an announcement on whether to
recommend an indictment until after a U.S.-hosted Mideast peace
conference, Israel Radio reported Friday.

Police had said they planned to make their recommendation public today,
hours after Olmert leaves for Washington. Their opinion would go to
Israel's attorney general, who makes the final decision on whether to
press charges.

The radio quoted police as saying the postponement was in response to
requests by unnamed officials on the grounds that it was in Israel's
national interest.

Police spokesmen could not be directly reached yesterday on the Jewish
Sabbath.

Any move to indict would weaken Olmert domestically and deal a heavy
blow to the international peace efforts.

The radio said investigators did not say why the announcement was, in
the first place, scheduled for when Olmert was due to be out of the
country and why the postponement was decided at such a late stage.
Investigations have gone on for months.

Police are investigating three cases against Olmert.

Authorities suspect that he tried to rig the sale of Israel's
second-largest bank in favor of two friends when he served as finance
minister in 2005. He is also suspected of having bought a Jerusalem
home at a substantial discount in exchange for arranging political
favors for the seller, and steering a lucrative government grant to a
political supporter while he was trade minister.

Olmert denies any wrongdoing.

He is scheduled to land in Washington today, the eve of the three-day
conference meant to restart peace talks with the Palestinians after a
seven-year freeze.