By Rami Amichai TEL AVIV (Reuters) Tue, May 13, 2014 — Israel's ex-prime minister Ehud Olmert was sentenced to six years in jail on Tuesday [for taking bribes in a real estate deal, a crime the judge said was akin to treason. The first criminal conviction of a former Israeli head of government all but ended speculation that Olmert - a centrist credited internationally with working towards a peace settlement with the Palestinians - might return to political life.

He had denied any wrongdoing in the property deal, approved when he served as Jerusalem's mayor, that led to the construction of the hilltop Holyland apartment towers, a hulking stone complex widely seen as one of the city's worst eyesores. "A public servant who takes bribes is akin to a traitor," said Judge David Rozen in the Tel Aviv District Court, as he handed down a six-year prison term sought by prosecutors and fined Olmert 1 million shekels ($289,500).

Rozen found Olmert guilty on March 31 of two bribery charges, saying the former prime minister had accepted 500,000 shekels from developers of the Holyland project and 60,000 shekels in a separate real estate deal. Olmert, the judge said, devoted most of his time to "praise-worthy" public service - but "also lined his own pockets".

"The accused served as the prime minister of Israel. From this high and honorable post, he reached the position of having been convicted of the most despicable and grave crimes," Rozen said. Rozen ordered Olmert, 68, to report to prison on September 1, effectively giving his lawyers time to take the case to a higher court and request that he remain free until it rules.

Known as one of the country's most gregarious politicians, Olmert sat largely stony-faced during the court session, and made no comment afterwards. "He did not take a bribe. He did not receive a bribe. He sees himself as innocent, and it is with those feelings that he will be going to the Supreme Court to appeal," Olmert lawyer Eli Zohar told reporters.

Two years ago, Olmert was acquitted of most of the major charges brought against him in separate cases involving his links to a U.S. businessman. Those corruption allegations forced Olmert's resignation as prime minister in 2008, and his acquittal had appeared to position him for a possible political comeback.

NETANYAHU CRITIC Olmert has made several criticisms of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies toward the Palestinians, fuelling talk about his future political ambitions. But the judge said Olmert's crimes entailed "moral turpitude", which under Israeli law would preclude him from running for public office for seven years after finishing his jail term.

A lawyer by profession, Olmert began his political career in the 1970s as a lawmaker who targeted organized crime in Israel. He was mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003 and prime minister from 2006 to 2009, staying in office in a caretaker capacity until after an election that brought right-winger Netanyahu to power. As Israel's leader, Olmert waged war against militants in Lebanon in 2006 and the Gaza Strip in 2008. He claimed significant progress in talks with the Palestinians aimed at securing a final peace deal, offering an Israeli withdrawal from much of the occupied West Bank.

But no agreement was reached. After a three-year break, U.S.-brokered negotiations resumed in July, but they were frozen last month by Netanyahu after President Mahmoud Abbas's Palestine Liberation Organization signed a reconciliation deal with Hamas, an Islamist group that advocates Israel's destruction. Palestinians blamed Netanyahu for the collapse, citing Israeli settlement-building and his failure to carry out a pledged prisoner release.

Olmert was among 13 defendants in the Holyland case. Sentences handed down on Tuesday against six of the other accused ranged from three to seven years. In 2010, a former Israeli president, Moshe Katsav, was convicted on rape charges. He is serving a seven-year sentence. (Writing by Jeffrey Heller, Editing by Maayan Lubell and Andrew Heavens)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/israeli-court-sentences-former-prime-minister-olmert-six-071633100.html

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The former prime minister of Israel Ehud Olmert has said Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza, and that “thousands of innocent Palestinians are being killed, as well as many Israeli soldiers”.

Olmert, who was the 12th prime minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009, wrote in an opinion piece for the Israeli newspaper and website Haaretz that “the government of Israel is currently waging a war without purpose, without goals or clear planning and with no chances of success”.

He added: “Never since its establishment has the state of Israel waged such a war … The criminal gang headed by Benjamin Netanyahu has set a precedent without equal in Israel’s history in this area, too.

The former Israeli PM and former member of Likud, the same party as Netanyahu, wrote that the “pointless victims among the Palestinian population” were reaching “monstrous proportions” in recent weeks.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/27/former-israeli-pm-ehud-olmert-says-his-country-is-committing-war-crimes

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This is the first time that Olmert has been linked to Epstein.

“This Department of Justice is following through on President Trump’s commitment to transparency and lifting the veil on the disgusting actions of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators,” said Bondi. “The first phase of files released today sheds light on Epstein’s extensive network and begins to provide the public with long overdue accountability.”

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-844177

[GUSNOTE: THE JERUSALEM POST IS NOT A FRIEND OF OLMERT]

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SEE ALSO: https://epsteinexposed.com/persons/ehud-olmert

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