Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., July 30, 2008 Tamuz 27, 5768 | | Israel Time: 17:47 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 20:10 25/07/2008 AG Mazuz: Olmert obstructing graft probes against him By Tomer Zarchin, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Olmert, Talansky, Israel  Attorney General Menachem Mazuz criticized the prime minister on Thursday saying that Ehud Olmert was deliberately obstructing the corruption investigation currently underway against him. In response to a petition submitted by journalist Yoav Yitzhak asking the High Court of Justice to declare Olmert incapacitated and remove him from office, Mazuz said "the police have faced serious difficulties in setting dates for questioning of the prime minister, as well as in determining the length of the questioning." "These are difficulties that the police have not faced while investigating any other public figure, including previous prime ministers," Mazuz went on to say. Advertisement Yitzhak petitioned the High Court of Justice asking the court to declare the prime minister incapacitated for a pre-determined period of time, during which he would be questioned every day in regard to all six open investigations against him. Yitzhak also asked that Olmert be compelled to comply with short notice summons for questioning should the investigation require it. In a response to the High Court, Mazuz said that "the investigations against Olmert in various affairs are well underway, in advanced stages, but not yet complete. In any case, decisions have yet to be made, and it is not yet clear whether the evidence gathered will be sufficient to support an indictment in any of the cases, and which charges they will include." "In light of the public sensitivity of the matter, we will do the utmost in our power to expedite the investigation process," Mazuz added. In regard to the petition calling for Olmert to be declared incapacitated, the attorney general reiterated his previous assertion that Olmert's continued service as prime minister is not a legal issue, but rather a political one. However, the attorney general went on to say that "the situation in which the prime minister is holding on to his seat while numerous criminal investigations are being conducted against him could raise doubts regarding his ability to fulfill his duties - both in the sense of being able to devote the time required and the sense of public trust in him." Meanwhile Thursday, Olmert's associates said that the prime minister was scheduled to undergo a fourth round of questioning in the latest corruption investigations against him. Related articles: Olmert: I'll take polygraph to prove I didn't leak probe info Police: Olmert travel expenses probe likely to yield indictment Talansky to Haaretz: Olmert most astute politician I've met Bookmark to del.icio.us   Internal fighting Human rights groups say torture is widespread in Palestinian lockups. Danger looms Pentagon chief Robert Gates warns: War with Iran would be 'disastrous.'   1.   Mazuz is again stalling 19:00  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 24/07/08   2.   Cock-a-doodle-dooooooo! 19:06  |  Gideon Reader 24/07/08   3.   What did u expect from him otherwise to do 19:31  |  Help, Help 24/07/08   4.   Olmert et al 19:33  |  Nemesis 24/07/08   5.   Olmert must be indicted wthout Hesitation...... 20:16  |  Dagma 24/07/08   6.   Stop your Coup D`etat & Let the peace process goes on 20:26  |  Simon Mohammed 24/07/08   7.   Has the whole Dilemma unhinged the PM...... 20:33  |  Dolly 24/07/08   8.   To # 6 Simon Mohammed - Obstructing the Judiaciy 21:07  |  The Threadmill 24/07/08   9.   Israel must seriously examine if Olmert is a foreign operative 21:31  |  Dr. L. Brnd 24/07/08   10.   Olmert to be declared Incapacitated and removed 21:43  |  Natasha... 24/07/08   11.   Ohlmert stalls ? 21:45  |  leon 24/07/08   12.   to # 8, you make the point, because in Israel you don`t want to 22:59  |  Simo Mohammed 24/07/08   13.   Mazuz WHat favor or does Olmert hold over you? 23:48  |  Shepherd 24/07/08   14.   This is becoming more than people can bear... 23:49  |  Esther 24/07/08   15.   Procrastination as a policy... 00:10  |  Esther 25/07/08   16.   An obvious sign of Olmert`s guilt. 01:43  |  Chaim 25/07/08   17.   Olmert,Perfidy, and Foreign Employ 06:37  |  joe k 25/07/08   18.   Olmert running scared 07:15  |  Rozz 25/07/08   19.   Olmert may well be a Foreign Operative..... 08:23  |  The Threadmill 25/07/08   20.   #9 and #17 09:41  |  R. Altman 25/07/08   21.   Re Altman #18... let`s be exact about it... 11:15  |  Esther 25/07/08   22.   Yoav Yitzchak has lost his status 12:53  |  Jay A Friedman 25/07/08   23.   AG Mazuz do what has to be done 17:20  |  H.H.M. 25/07/08   24.   And I thought Israel is a democracy! I find it is a dictature. 19:29  |  S 25/07/08   25.   I`M SURE MERT FEELS THE SAME WAY;THAT HE IS BEING OBSTRUCTED FROM 17:40  |  glenna 30/07/08

Read & React Abbas vows to dismantle PA if Israel frees Hamas prisoners for Shalit Responses: 121 Palestinian boy, 11, killed during protest at West Bank fence Responses: 177 Haaretz TV: Hamas summer camp teaches Gaza kids to hate and kill Responses: 81 Barak: U.S. to provide Israel with defense systems against Iran strike Responses: 45 Rosner's Domain Lieberman seen as good veep choice (WTR) What American Jews believe (WTR) Barack Obama, the fashionable darling of the Israeli left The Lebanese are undercutting goodwill in Washington (WTR) More Headlines 14:44 State panel of inquiry to investigate treatment of evacuated settlers 16:46 Syria and Israel end 4th round of indirect talks, more set for Aug. 17:38 Study: Both Hamas and Fatah guilty of human rights violations 17:35 Court orders squatters to quit East Jerusalem property at once 16:48 Border Police: Probe shows our live fire killed boy at Na'alin rally 10:51 Can a 14-year-old computer geek be the CEO of a startup company? 10:03 Maccabi Haifa signs the 'Jewish Jordan' for next season 14:40 Abbas vows to dismantle PA if Israel frees Hamas prisoners for Shalit 13:56 Barak: U.S. to provide Israel with defense systems against Iran strike 16:40 Government weighs congestion tax aimed at Tel Aviv drivers 14:46 Mofaz: No talks on core issues while coalition is on verge of collapse 17:16 Hamas summer camp teaches Gaza kids to hate, kill 14:24 IDF officer suspected of trying to rape woman soldier 07:14 ANALYSIS: Israeli security forces losing control in the West Bank Previous Editions Select Day 29 jul 28 jul 27 jul 25 jul 24 jul 23 jul 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. MBA in Israel in English APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved