Former Israeli Prime Minister Found Guilty in Financial Corruption Case

A court in Israel on Monday found Ehud Olmert, the former Prime Minister of the country, guilty in a financial corruption case. The court in Tel Aviv ruled that Mr. Olmert was 'guilty' in the case of receiving 'cash envelopes' from one of his Jewish-American supporters. Moshe Talansky, a Jewish resident of New York who was a political supporter of Mr. Olmert, had provided several cash envelopes through Olmert's former special secretary to his office. Moshe Talansky passed away shortly after Israeli media revealed the 'cash envelopes,' but the Israeli police recorded his testimony before his death. Shula Zaken, who was Mr. Olmert's long-time special secretary, testified against him in court. Ms. Zaken, who herself was imprisoned last year for involvement in bribery, agreed to testify against her former boss to reduce her prison sentence. The Tel Aviv court effectively annulled Mr. Olmert's acquittal issued two and a half years ago with this conviction. The judicial process in this case resumed after his special secretary submitted recorded conversations between herself and Olmert to the court. The judges wrote in their ruling that Olmert committed 'fraud' and 'breach of trust' of the worst kind, as when an individual reaches a senior position like the prime minister, they 'must strive more than others to uphold the laws and maintain the trust given to them by the people's votes.' Meanwhile, another court in Israel had previously acquitted Mr. Olmert of other corruption-related charges, but in 2012 he was fined $19,000 and sentenced to six years of probation for illegal assistance in the construction of a housing project in Jerusalem, which he appealed to the Supreme Court of Israel. With the issuance of the new conviction against Ehud Olmert in the 'cash envelope' case, it is likely that he will be sentenced to prison and soon find himself behind bars. Mr. Olmert has remained silent in the face of this ruling, but a spokesperson for his defense team said on Monday that a decision on appealing would be made after a thorough review of the ruling. Ehud Olmert resigned from the prime ministership in the fall of 2008 amid a series of media revelations against him, claiming he wanted to 'prove his innocence.' The 69-year-old Olmert served as prime minister from 2005 to 2009 following the incapacitation of then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. He also served as the mayor of Jerusalem for ten years and later as Minister of Finance and Minister of Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development. In recent years, Olmert has repeatedly stated that he is accused of financial misconduct due to his political views and efforts for peace with the Palestinians by media outlets supported by the right-wing in Israel. Nevertheless, even Olmert's supporters seriously criticized him after his conviction for receiving bribes from a Jewish-American millionaire, calling for him to be imprisoned. Israelis say that the conviction of former leaders and officials in the judicial system is a point of pride for the country, as it shows that all individuals are equal before the law. Previously, Israel's ministers of interior and finance have been imprisoned for financial corruption, and former President Moshe Katsav has also been imprisoned for sexual corruption.