ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER REPORTEDLY THE MOST CORRUPT MEMBER OF GOVERNMENT

(Ben Heine © Cartoons)
Ehud Olmert is unique in that he is equally despised by both the right and the left in Israel. At no time in the history of this Desert Paradise has anyone else in government received such an 'honour'.

His arrogance, dishonesty and corruptness has captured the attention of all... traits that were known about him when he was Mayor of Jerusalem. How he got to be Prime Minister is a question millions of Israelis are asking.

The following two articles from HaAretz gives details of these feelings....

Public poll: Olmert most corrupt member of gov't
By Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz Correspondent

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was judged the most corrupt member of government by the public for the second year in a row according to the Sderot Conference, an annual gathering of experts which published its yearly report Wednesday.

The Conference's annual "corruption parade," a poll based on public surveys conducted in the lead-up to the meet, found that Israelis believe Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to be the Knesset's "most honest" minister, as they did in last year's poll.

The surveys found that 56 percent of participants are convinced Olmert is corrupt member of parliament according to the public. Runner-up to Olmert was former finance minister Abraham Hirchson of Kadima with 55 percent, while Haim Ramon of Kadima and Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu) shared third place with 33 percent. Defense Minister Ehud Barak (Labor) took fourth place along with Finance Minister Roni Bar-On (Kadima), both of whom were voted corrupt by 29 percent of participants.

The surveys showed public confidence in Livni (Kadima) was highest of all members of the government at 46 percent, with Education Minister Yuli Tamir (Labor) receiving 43 percent of the vote. Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz (Kadima) took third place with 34 percent, while Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter received 27 percent. Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai of the ultra-Orthodox Shas took fifth place with 25 percent.

Among members of Knesset who are not in the government, Tzachi Hanegbi of Kadima was considered the most corrupt with 40 percent of the vote, followed by opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) with 38 percent and Esterina Tartman (Yisrael Beiteinu) with 32 percent. Former defense minister Amir Peretz and Eli Marciano, both of Labor, were voted corrupt by 31 and 24 percent respectively.

MKs seen as most trustworthy were Shelly Yachimovich of Labor with 44 percent, Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik of Kadima with 41 percent and Meretz-Yachad's Ran Cohen at 34 percent.

(Ben Heine © Cartoons)
Author David Grossman snubs Olmert upon receiving prize
By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent

Author David Grossman, upon receiving the Emet Prize for Arts, Science and Culture, did not shake the hand of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert or Supreme Court President Justice Dorit Beinisch at the awards ceremony Wednesday night in the Jerusalem Theater.

Grossman, whose son Uri was killed during fighting in the Second Lebanon War, said in a speech at last year's rally commemorating assassinated former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin that "at this time there is no king in Israel... our leadership is hollow."

In the speech, he addressed Olmert directly, saying, "Certainly I am grieving, but I am more pained than angry. This country and what you and your friends are doing to it pains me."

The organizers of the awards ceremony were told in advance that Grossman did not intend to shake Olmert's hand, and the prime minister was briefed beforehand. He did not stand or approach Grossman when he received his prize.

After the ceremony, the famed author said, "I don't shake the prime minister's hand. I assume you can understand the reason." Beinisch said she was not surprised by Grossman's silent statement, and said, "I shook Grossman's hand earlier."

The Emet Prize is a $1 million prize awarded by the Prime Minister's Office and the Alberto M. Nissim Foundation. The prize was divided this year among 11 recipients, including former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak and writer Sami Michael.