Israel

Ex-Premier Olmert, with Pathos in the cell

Staging for the people and the media, or genuine concern? With touching words and the asseveration of his innocence has Israel’s former Prime Minister, his term of imprisonment because of corruption started.

Day one of the arrest of the former Prime (center) in the Maasijahu prison near Tel Aviv

In support of the security forces came to the 70-year-old Ehud Olmert in Maasijahu prison near Tel Aviv. The Highest court in Jerusalem had the previous Israeli Prime Minister, to 18 months in prison because he, as Secretary of Commerce from a businessman a bribe in the amount of 14,000 Euro had accepted. Another month he has to sit, because he had tried, his former Kanzleichefin of a statement against him to hold.

Ehud Olmert: Israel’s first Ex-leader in detention

“Heavy Heart”

Olmert stressed that he go “heavy heart” in prison. “When I was Prime Minister was, I carried the highest responsibility for the safety of the citizens of Israel, and today, I am behind lock and key,” said Olmert, in a video message shortly before the start of the sentence. Olmert is the first Ex-Prime Minister of Israel, the imprisonment of acceleration.

“With great sadness”

Olmert turned in the message to the Israeli people, and said with a quiet, appropriate voice. “It is important for me to repeat: I deny all bribery allegations against me, clearly back,” said the Ex-politician. He had made a mistake, but no criminal Offence is committed. “For part of it I pay today a high price, perhaps too high.” He hoped that, in retrospect, serious Attempts at a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians during his term of office will be honored. Life put him on a “hard test” and he added the detention “with great sadness”.

sti/uh (afp, dpa, rtr)