Israel’s former PM Olmert: from promise to prison term

Ehud Olmert is the first Israeli premier to be jailed, capping a years-long legal saga that forced him to resign in 2006 amid the last serious round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

The former Israel prime minister Ehud Olmert, centre, arrives at Maasiyahu prison, in Ramale, Israel. Olmert has to serve 19 months in jail after being found guilty of corruption charges pertaining toShow more

RAMLE, ISRAEL // Ehud Olmert, once known for his peace efforts with the Palestinians, on Monday became Israel’s first former premier to serve jail time.

The 70-year-old entered the Maasiyahu prison in the central city of Ramle on Monday morning to begin a 19-month sentence for bribery and obstruction of justice.

In a video message released on Monday morning before he began his sentence, Olmert maintained his innocence.

“You can imagine how painful and strange this change is to me, my family, loved ones and supporters,” said Olmert, looking haggard and downcast. “I totally deny all the bribe charges attributed to me.”

He added that “over the course of my extensive career I also made mistakes, though none of them were criminal by nature in my opinion. I’m paying a dear price for some of them today, perhaps too dear.

“With a very heavy heart, I’m accepting my sentence today. Nobody is above the law.”

Once described as “probably the best” politician Israel had ever produced, and known for relaunching peace efforts with the Palestinians while prime minister between 2006-2009, Olmert is now likely to be remembered for allegations that led one judge to speak of “corrupt and filthy practices”.

The charges against him date to before his time as prime minister, to the years when he served as mayor of Jerusalem and economy minister, among other positions.

Olmert was initially given six years’ prison in May 2014 for taking bribes in the early 2000s in connection with the construction of Jerusalem’s massive Holyland residential complex, but the sentence was later reduced to 18 months.

Last week, an Israeli court handed him an additional month for obstructing justice. He admitted to the crime as part of a plea bargain in that case.

His prison sentence could still be extended further. The supreme court is debating his appeal against a third sentence of eight months for fraud and corruption.

Olmert won international acclaim for relaunching peace efforts with the Palestinians at the Annapolis conference in the United States in 2007, but the corruption charges against him have come to define his legacy.

US financier Morris Talansky, a key witness in one of the cases, testified that Olmert gave him envelopes stuffed with cash and said much of the money may have been spent on luxury travel and fine cigars. The testimony sent shock waves through Israeli politics.

Before taking over as premier in 2006, Olmert was recognised as a key strategist behind many of former prime minister Ariel Sharon’s boldest moves, including Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from Gaza and his decision to leave Likud and form Kadima.

He was once seen as among the most promising politicians in Israeli history.

* Agence France-Presse