Israeli PM Ariel Sharon indicted for taking bribes

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-01-22 07:05am

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/01/ ... index.html

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has dismissed calls for him to resign despite an announcement by prosecutors that they may indict him over corruption allegations.

The scandal involves alleged bribes of $690,000 paid by an Israeli businessman and political activist, David Appel, to Sharon when he was foreign minister in the late 1990s, Israeli Justice Ministry sources said Wednesday.

The indictment, filed in Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, said the alleged bribes -- which also went to Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, a close associate of Sharon's -- were to get aid in developing a Greek real estate project and secure the rezoning of land near Tel Aviv.

At that time, 1998-99, Sharon was Israeli foreign minister and Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem. Both officials are members of the Likud party.

Some lawmakers from the opposition Labor Party have called for Sharon's resignation. The party is preparing a no-confidence motion for Monday, Israeli officials said.

But on Thursday, Sharon appeared defiant. "I am not about to resign. I emphasize, I am not about to resign," the Yediot Ahronot daily quoted him as saying.

"I am busy with work from morning to night, and I do not intend to make time for issues that are under investigation."

Prosecutors said they had 200 witnesses to buttress their case on Appel, but attorneys for the businessman maintain their client is innocent.

Defense attorney Moshe Israel told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz: "There was no bribery. There was no giver, and there was no taker."

Sharon and Olmert previously have said they did nothing wrong.

In the late 1990s, according to the charge sheet, "Appel gave Ariel Sharon a bribe in recognition of activities connected to the fulfillment of his public positions."

Appel enlisted the help of Sharon and Olmert because he was having trouble with the project, according to the indictment and prosecutors. The men were to meet with Greek government officials on behalf of Appel, and in return, they allegedly would receive help with their political campaigns, the indictment and prosecutors said.

The businessman is accused of indirectly paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to Sharon, the charge sheet said. Some of the money apparently went to the prime minister's son, Gilad, who was allegedly paid an inflated salary for his work as a consultant, the indictment said.

The indictment said "Appel and Gilad came to an agreement, even though Appel knew that Gilad did not have the relevant professional skills. Appel came to an agreement with Gilad to pay out inflated amounts of money to Ariel Sharon's son with a purpose of influencing Ariel Sharon in his public positions."

In the past, Gilad Sharon has also denied wrongdoing.

The Justice Ministry said a decision on whether to indict Olmert and Gilad will be made at the same time as the decision on Sharon.

If Sharon and Olmert were to be indicted, Israeli case law indicates they would have to suspend themselves from office and await the conclusion of legal proceedings.

Sharon also faces an accusation that he received an illegal $1.5 million loan during his campaign to win the leadership of the Likud party in 1999. That investigation is ongoing.

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2004-01-22 07:13am

Woot Sharon is a rasist and crooked thief!

Hopefully Israel gets a better leader and soon!

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-01-22 07:18am

About fucking time some dirt appeared on this righteous sonofabitch's record.

Maybe a less paranoid, xenophobic guy will takeover.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-01-22 07:43am

Admiral Valdemar wrote:About fucking time some dirt appeared on this righteous sonofabitch's record.

The massacres at Sabra and Shatila weren't enough?

Maybe a less paranoid, xenophobic guy will takeover.

Sadly, some Israel-watchers feel that the alternatives might be even worse than him.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-01-22 07:50am

Well, the Likud party is still in power so i'd imagine the Party would just name a new leader..... Ben Netanyahu maybe? He seemed resonable.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-01-22 08:17am

Darth Wong wrote:
Admiral Valdemar wrote:About fucking time some dirt appeared on this righteous sonofabitch's record.
The massacres at Sabra and Shatila weren't enough?
Maybe a less paranoid, xenophobic guy will takeover.
Sadly, some Israel-watchers feel that the alternatives might be even worse than him.

Money talks, it would seem this may have more precedent for ending his shameful career than any military action.

I know Palestine has at least someone to replace that decrepit old fart of incompetence that is Arafat, I'm hoping Israel has at least one alternative that doesn't bang the war drums all the time.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-01-22 09:41am

Darth Wong wrote: The massacres at Sabra and Shatila weren't enough?

Uhm, mike, that's small peanuts, considering his performance in the 1973
war. He was constantly fighting the Israeli High command more often
than the Egyptians, and doing all this with an eye towards higher political
office (he had just been elected to the Knesset at the time)

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2004-01-22 09:55am

What's Hebrew for "Watergate"?

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-01-22 10:27am

Well, I'm sure American conservatives will find some way to spin it to make that look like a good thing on Sharon's part. They always do.

revprez · Post by **revprez** » 2004-01-22 10:50am

Gil Hamilton wrote:Well, I'm sure American conservatives will find some way to spin it to make that look like a good thing on Sharon's part. They always do.

Yes, we always do.

Rev Prez

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-01-22 11:00am

revprez wrote:
Gil Hamilton wrote:Well, I'm sure American conservatives will find some way to spin it to make that look like a good thing on Sharon's part. They always do.
Yes, we always do.

Rev Prez

no we don't. I'm a conservative, and I think Sharon is a fat racist asshole.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-01-22 11:17am

Peregrin Toker wrote:What's Hebrew for "Watergate"?

Literal? I suppose it would be "Shaer Mim"

Its not 'ben' Netanyahu, its 'Bibi' (nitpick).

Last comment: reactions here are strange, half the people don't care if he did that

I don't care if he got bribed, as long he kills the Pals'

real quote BTW
while the other half wants him out of the office, and a new extream rightist elected...

Go figure..

revprez · Post by **revprez** » 2004-01-22 11:20am

Col. Crackpot wrote:no we don't. I'm a conservative, and I think Sharon is a fat racist asshole.

Yeah, but your wing of the movement hasn't seen glory since Pat Buchanan won New Hampshire and Bob Smith was a Senator. It should be interesting to see how closely the Republican platform this year reflects the new conservative outlook.

Rev Prez

Bob McDob · Post by **Bob McDob** » 2004-01-22 11:46am

In related news, no sex for Rabin's assasin

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-01-22 11:46am

many of Israel's other leaders are a LOT more radical even than Sharon. If Sharon is actually removed from office, many of the alternative PM's could be even worse (though some may be better). I think we'll have to wait and see what happens: both to see if he's ousted and to see who challenges him.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-01-22 11:50am

Master of Ossus wrote:many of Israel's other leaders are a LOT more radical even than Sharon. If Sharon is actually removed from office, many of the alternative PM's could be even worse (though some may be better). I think we'll have to wait and see what happens: both to see if he's ousted and to see who challenges him.

Oh yeah, they could put in an ultra-Orthodox PM. Granted, WWIII would start shortly thereafter.... but they could do it.

Axis Kast · Post by **Axis Kast** » 2004-01-22 12:18pm

The Middle East peace process suffered its greatest recent blow because of Arafat's interferance with the government of Abbas. Sharon, for all his faults, was willing to negotiate with the new Palestinian leadership.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-01-22 02:45pm

Axis, lets not turn this into another IVP.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-01-22 02:51pm

Sharon's actually done some good things in the region. He's become far more receptive to diplomatic solutions since he took office, and that's more than I've seen from the Knesset. While I don't think that WWIII will erupt suddenly because they put a new guy in office, I don't exactly think it would be the best thing for a region that seems to enjoy periods of comparative calm and stability.

Axis Kast · Post by **Axis Kast** » 2004-01-22 02:55pm

Precisely.

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2004-01-22 03:13pm

revprez wrote:
Col. Crackpot wrote:no we don't. I'm a conservative, and I think Sharon is a fat racist asshole.
Yeah, but your wing of the movement hasn't seen glory since Pat Buchanan won New Hampshire and Bob Smith was a Senator. It should be interesting to see how closely the Republican platform this year reflects the new conservative outlook.

Rev Prez

You're on crack right now, aren't you?