JERUSALEM The indictment of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and 17 other Israelis on charges related to one of the largest real estate scandals in Israeli history is the latest shoe to drop in a country where political corruption has come to be seen as an epidemic.
The indictment issued Jan. 4 alleges that Olmert and several other Israeli officials accepted millions of dollars in bribes to promote a series of real estate projects, most prominently Jerusalems controversial Holyland development.
There are so many ironies in the case, said Stuart Schoffman, a fellow at Jerusalems Shalom Hartman Institute.
Israel is supposed to be the holy land. This project is called the Holyland, and yet its the most unholy business you can imagine.
Its like weve turned into Boardwalk Empire, he added, referring to the popular American television show about corruption in Prohibition-era Atlantic City, NJ.
Olmert, who has denied any wrongdoing, already is standing trial regarding separate allegations that he illegally accepted funds from US businessman Morris Talansky and double billed Jewish groups for speaking trips abroad.
The corruption charges stem from alleged activities before Olmert became prime minister, an office he assumed in 2006 after a stroke left Ariel Sharon in a permanent vegetative state. Olmert resigned as prime minister in 2008 amid mounting allegations of corruption.
The scope of the latest charges is even greater than the previous ones, both in terms of the amount of money involved and the large number of people who have been indicted, including a brother of Olmerts, a longtime aide and his successor as mayor of Jerusalem.
In this case, Olmert is accused of taking bribes worth about $470,000.
The indictment alleges that his brother, Yossi Olmert, received $150,000 and that the former prime ministers bureau chief, Shula Zaken, got about $100,000.
This will only hit home when Israelis see him entering prison, said Gil Hoffman, political correspondent for the Jerusalem Post.
When you have this many investigations, the best lawyer in the world couldnt get him out of this.
AT the center of the indictment is the Holyland project, a hilltop complex of interlocking apartments that dominates the skyline of southwestern Jerusalem. Jerusalemites have nicknamed the project of three large buildings and an even larger tower The Monster.
Theres even a cynical joke making the rounds:
Q: Wheres the best place to live in Jerusalem?
A: The Holyland because its the only place in the city you dont have to look at the Holyland project.
The indictment says the alleged crimes took place while Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem, a post he held from 1993 to 2003.
According to the indictment, Olmert pushed through changes in zoning laws and stonewalled hundreds of objections. He also reportedly used some of the money he received to cover his campaign debts.
The indictment also alleges that Uri Lupolianski, then a Jerusalem city councilman and later mayor, solicited donations for a charity he founded that lends out medical equipment.
The states case is based on a middleman who turned states witness. His name is being withheld under a gag order; hes being referred to only as S. He reportedly is in ill health, and the prosecution has asked for a speedier trial.
However, Israel Television Channel 2 showed video of the states witness, with his face blurred, shopping recently for a new suit in an expensive Tel Aviv boutique.
Israeli media outlets have reported that he not only is receiving immunity from prosecution but also an allowance from the government.
Olmert insists that the states witness is lying.
The state witness in the Holyland case is an abominable liar, but instead of putting him in jail, youre paying him and bribing him, Olmert yelled at police interrogators during an interrogation session, according to Haaretz. The only one paying bribes in this project is the State of Israel.
The new indictment against Olmert comes weeks after former President Moshe Katzav began serving a seven-year jail sentence for rape, sexual harassment and obstruction of justice. Olmerts trial on the latest charges could last for several years, as did the prosecution of Katzav.
THE former president and prime minister arent the only prominent politicians with legal troubles.
Avraham Hirschson, a former finance minister from the Kadima party, is in jail, as is Shlomo Benizri, a former social welfare minister from the Shas party.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has been under investigation for corruption for more than a decade. Police say they expect to issue an indictment in the coming months.
The Jerusalem Posts Hoffman said he believes that Olmerts indictment will serve as a warning to other Israeli politicians.
In the past, Israeli politicians might have felt they could get away with such things, he said. But now theyre running scared. Theyre afraid of doing anything even borderline because theyre afraid theyll get caught.