Olmert charges were meant to foil peace

Arabstoday held an exclusive interview with Nazir Megalli, an acclaimed political analyst specialising in Israeli affairs. Megalli claims that corruption accusations which led to the resignation of Israel's former prime minister Ehud Olmert were "part of a plot to foil the peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians". Olmert on Tuesday was cleared of two charges of corruption but found guilty of another count by three senior judges at a Jerusalem court. The surprise ruling allowed the former leader to walk away from a sensational three-year trial largely exonerated. "The charges against Olmert were fabricated at  a time peace negotiations were just about to conclude," said Megalli to Arabstoday. The former prime minister and mayor of Jerusalem was impeached in 2008 on charges of fraud, breach of trust, false entries in corporate documents and acquisition through fraudulent means in cases that have popularly become referred to as the Rishon Tours double-billing affair, the Talansky affair and the Investments Centre affair. Each charge carries a mandatory three-year prison sentence. He was acquitted of these charges due to reasonable doubt. The ruling however ordered the former Israeli leader to serve four months' community service for granting illegal favours to Uri Messer, a long-time friend and business partner, while serving as minister of industry, trade and labour, a position he held between 2002 and 2007. Messer had applied to the ministry's investment centre for state grants and benefits. Olmert has steadfastly protested his innocence since the scandal broke, insisting he was being unfairly persecuted by the state attorney and state prosecutor, Moshe Lador. When he first took to the witness stand in May 2011, he told the court: "I am fighting for my life here." "The Israelis shot their former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin to halt the peace process, and they tried to carry out a character assassination of Olmert through stories of corruption, which were all proved untrue by the court," said Megalli. The political analyst also said he expected Olmert to run for prime minister again in the next elections to be held in Israel, saying he even had a high chance of success "as he was one of the most successful prime ministers Israel has seen." The former Kadima leader  indicated he would launch a political comeback if he were acquitted – although any such campaign is likely to be suspended until a separate charge of corruption against him is resolved. Olmert was indicted in May this year on charges of accepting a bribe to promote the construction of various housing projects, including the vast Holyland complex in Jerusalem. "It is true that he was the one who launched a war against Lebanon in 2006, and a war against Gaza strip in 2008 as well, but despite these wars, Israel then had a better reputation around the world as a country that seeks peace," said Megalli. "I believe that [the centrist party] Kadima and the Israeli right will support the idea of Olmert's return as prime minister, especially if he vows to run his government in the same 'reasonable' way he is known for," he added. Megalli said Olmert's case would open the door for demands that both the ministers and prime ministers be granted judicial immunity while serving their posts, because lawsuits filed against them could just be fabricated to force them to resign. The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, reportedly expressed his congratulations in a phone call to Olmert on Tuesday, for being let off two major corruption charges. Hayim Ramon, a leading figure in Olmert's Kadima party, called for setting up an investigation commission to reveal who was behind the fabrication of the charges that led earlier to Olmert's resignation.