Israeli Charged With Bribing Sharon

[Must_B_Free]

Israeli Charged With Bribing Sharon

TEL AVIV, Israel - An Israeli businessman was indicted Wednesday on charges of bribing Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) with hundreds of thousands of dollars, further complicating the prime minister's clouded legal situation.

Analysts said the indictment against real-estate developer David Appel increases the chances that Sharon himself may face charges, which would compel him to leave office.

Sharon was not charged Wednesday.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040121/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_sharon&cid=540&ncid=716

[Scurrilous]

1. Speculation grows over future of Sharon premiership

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/385453.html

<snip>

"As speculation mounted Wednesday over the impact of bribery allegations on the future of the Sharon premiership, senior Labor legislator Ophir Pines-Paz called the affair an unprecedented "political earthquake," adding that in a country of proper standards, the prime minister would have been forced to resign long ago."

<snip>

"A number of prominent Labor figures called for Sharon to resign over the charges, and Labor Chairman Shimon Peres asked the party's Knesset faction whip to prepare a no-confidence motion centered on the affair, Army Radio reported.
The prime minister, his son, and Olmert have denied all wrongdoing in the affair. But rival politicians have said the prime minister himself could face charges in the future, and would then be forced to step down."

<snip>

"Sources close to the prime minister played down the seriousness of the affair, saying that the prosecution had already "expended all its ammunition in leaks, cassettes and the like," and that no proof existed of wrongdoing on the part of Sharon.

"There is no chance that the prime minister will resign his post, nor is there a chance that charges will be filed against him," Army Radio quoted an unnamed close associate of Sharon as maintaining Wednesday, shortly before the charges were filed in Tel Aviv District Court.

But there were signs within senior Likud circles that the party was preparing for the possibility that the Sharon premiership might not last out the year."

[drewb]

2. Now that IS a surprise....

What is this world coming to? Oh my!

:loveya:

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Pretty sad

Sharon and Netanyahu have been trying to get the U.S. to fight their war and now we come to find that at least one of them would sell out their integrity to a high bidder. Pretty sad.

[frylock]

4. sad, yet hardly surprising..

mid-morning kick. :kick:

[Scurrilous]

5. Appel indictment says he transferred $580,000 to PM's ranch

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/385125.html

<snip>

"Businessman and back-room Likud kingmaker David Appel was indicted at the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court on Wednesday for allegedly bribing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his deputy, Ehud Olmert, some five to six years ago.

The amended indictment filed by the State Prosecutor's Office claims that Appel told Ariel Sharon, then foreign minister, that his son Gilad stood to earn "good money" from Appel's project to build a resort on a Greek island."

<snip>

"Appel allegedly hired Gilad Sharon, ostensibly to be a marketing advisor on the Greek island project, even though he knew that Gilad did not have the necessary experience or skills. From the evidence in police hands, Appel continued paying Gilad Sharon even when it was evident the Greek island plan was going nowhere, so that Ariel Sharon could allegedly continue helping Appel with his real estate deals.

The charge sheet states that Appel agreed to pay Gilad Sharon a salary of tens of thousands of shekels a month, as well as an additional $3 million. In all, $100,000 was paid out to Gilad Sharon and an additional NIS 2.582 million (around $580,000) was transferred to Ariel Sharon's Negev ranch.

The indictment states that "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."

[tinnypriv]

6. References to Nixon are abound in the Israeli media

How exciting :D

[bemildred]

7. Popcorn.

We're going to need lots of popcorn, with butter, and salt.
Who says politics can't be fun?

[Resistance]

8. Twizzlers for me, thanks

[bluesoul]

9. I'll have some

Sangria, thank you ;)

[tinnypriv]

10. According to Israeli TV

The Israeli Acting Attorney General wants to indict Sharon.

I say give the guy two weeks and he can pack his bags.

Now, do we want Olmert, Netenyahoo, Shalom (Mr I Want The Fence East Of Ari'el).... ?

[Resistance]

11. Christian Science Monitor article

Sharon bribery scrum heats up
By Ben Lynfield

JERUSALEM – With corruption scandals swirling around him, Ariel Sharon, Israel's self-styled warrior-politician, is facing a daunting battle for political survival, analysts say.

Mr. Sharon is on the hot seat after an indictment was issued Wednesday against a property developer for allegedly trying to bribe him.

The charges against Appel threaten Sharon on two levels, the analysts say. First, the case could lead to a separate indictment of the prime minister, which would lead to enormous pressure to resign.

Second, even if Sharon is not charged, the wear and tear of an embarrassing Appel trial could galvanize Likud party rivals to demand his resignation.

"I think Sharon is in very serious trouble but we have to remember that he is a fighter," says Leslie Susser, diplomatic correspondent of the Jerusalem Report. "People have written him off before and he has bounced back."

[Jack Rabbit]

12. BBC Link

From the BBC Online
Dated Wednesday January 21 15:57 GMT (7:57 am PST)

Sharon may face corruption charge

Prosecutors in Israel are considering charging Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his deputy in connection with a bribery scandal.
The Justice Ministry said a decision will be made within a few months.
It comes after an Israeli businessman was charged with offering millions of dollars in bribes to Mr Sharon, his deputy and one of Mr Sharon's sons.
The Israeli leader was questioned last year over the affair but denies any wrongdoing.

Read more.

For decades, the BBC has been a traditional source of news and information for those living in countries without a free and independent press. That is why this American living in the age of Bush and corporatism reads the BBC online.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. . . . and the Guardian . . .

From the Guardian Unlimited
Dated Thursday January 22

Bribes claim threatens to bring down Sharon
By Chris McGreal in Jerusalem

Ariel Sharon has been left one step away from corruption charges and being forced from office by the indictment of a businessman yesterday for allegedly paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Israeli prime minister's family for political favours . . . .
Prosecutors said they would decide in the coming months whether to charge Mr Sharon. Last night Israeli television reported that the acting attorney general, Edna Arbel, had said she believed there was sufficient evidence to indict the prime minister, but the decision would probably be left to her successor.
But the indictment of Mr Appel could be damaging enough to bring down the prime minister, particularly since he is also being investigated in connection with campaign contributions and bribery.

Read more.

[Jack Rabbit]

14. . . . and Ha'aretz . . .

From Ha'aretz (Jerusalem)
Dated Thursday January 22

Arbel wants to question Sharon again on Appel ties
By Baruch Kra

Acting Attorney General Edna Arbel believes there's enough hard evidence to charge Prime Minister Ariel Sharon with receiving bribes from businessman David Appel, who was also a Likud back-room wheeler dealer. The final decision will be made when all the relevant material is completed, including another interrogation of the prime minister.
Further inquiry is needed because of new material the police and prosecution have in the case, which involves help for Sharon's election campaigns and payments to Sharon, through his son Gilad, for various services Sharon allegedly provided for Appel.
At one point when Appel was seeking Sharon's help to resolve government obstacles to a business deal, Appel told Sharon his son Gilad would "make a lot of money."
Police Criminal Investigations Department commander Moshe Mizrahi also believes the evidence against the prime minister is very strong, and tends to agree with Arbel. The police hope to interrogate Sharon within days.

Read more.

It sounds like he's toast.

[IndianaGreen]

15. Jail, Jail, Jail, Jail!

Who's your daddy?

I think Omri Sharon will be the one to go to jail first. He has been the bagman for several questionable transactions, including the allegations that the Sharon family pocketed contributions from America.

This stuff is posted in the archives. Omri has a shaved head, and a fat body like his dad.

Last Update: 07/01/2004 08:17
Wed., January 07, 2004 Tevet 13, 5764

Video tape refutes MK Omri Sharon testimony

By Haaretz Service

A video tape from four years ago, which was aired Tuesday on Channel Two, refutes testimony by Likud MK Omri Sharon, regarding the role of strategic advisor David Spector in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's 1999 election bid.

Former Likud party general manager Uri Shani said on tape that he could "issue checks that no-one would follow. No-one knows. Listen well to what I say, you've known me for many years. I can issue anything you want."

The tape refutes Omri Sharon's testimony in the Cyril Kern loan affair investigation, in which he claims Spector and Shani had no part in his father's election campaign.

Police suspect bribery in the Cyril Kern affair, in which a loan from the South African businessman was returned by means of two transfers of hundreds of thousands of dollars from the same Austrian bank from which the loan had come.

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/380167.html

[sushi]

16. Israel's PM could be gone

before Arafat!

[Resistance]

17. nah

the guy masterminded the massacre of about 2000 people in a single weekend (at Sabra and Shatile) and now he's Prime Minister ... you think a simple bribery charge could bring him down?

Doubtful.

[sushi]

18. We will know soon

If he is indicted he'll have to go, doesn't he?