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Israeli PM denies taking bribes | |
(about 12 hours later) | |
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has denied taking bribes from a wealthy Jewish-American businessman, resisting calls for his resignation. | |
Mr Olmert admitted Moshe Talansky gave donations for past election campaigns, but insisted at a news conference "I never took a penny for myself". | |
He said he would only resign if prosecutors filed criminal charges. | |
The Israeli justice ministry lifted a week-old gagging order on media reporting the case on Thursday night. | |
The latest difficulties for Mr Olmert - who is already being investigated in a number of corruption scandals - became public as Israel celebrated the 60th anniversary of its establishment as a state. | |
Some opposition MPs said the investigation would prevent him from devoting sufficient attention to running the country. | |
The BBC's Paul Wood, in Jerusalem, says the disclosures are a severe embarrassment just days before a visit by US President George W Bush. | |
Doubts over Mr Olmert's future are also likely to upset further the faltering US-sponsored peace talks with the Palestinians. | |
'Not a penny' | 'Not a penny' |
New York-based financial Morris "Moshe" Talansky is said to have given hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to Mr Olmert at a series of meetings in the 1990s. | |
I will resign from my job if the attorney general decides to issue an indictment against me Ehud OlmertIsraeli prime minister | I will resign from my job if the attorney general decides to issue an indictment against me Ehud OlmertIsraeli prime minister |
According to Channel 2 TV, police said they did not know how the money was used. | According to Channel 2 TV, police said they did not know how the money was used. |
Mr Olmert said Mr Talansky had helped him raise election funds but he insisted everything had been legal. | Mr Olmert said Mr Talansky had helped him raise election funds but he insisted everything had been legal. |
The Talansky contributions were towards two mayoral campaigns for Jerusalem, one campaign for chairman of the Likud Party and another to cover campaign debt retroactively, according to the prime minister. | The Talansky contributions were towards two mayoral campaigns for Jerusalem, one campaign for chairman of the Likud Party and another to cover campaign debt retroactively, according to the prime minister. |
"I never took bribes, I never took a penny for myself," he said in a televised statement to the press on Thursday night. | "I never took bribes, I never took a penny for myself," he said in a televised statement to the press on Thursday night. |
Mr Talansky, in Israel to celebrate the Passover holiday, told Channel Two he had been "baffled" when police called him in for questioning. | Mr Talansky, in Israel to celebrate the Passover holiday, told Channel Two he had been "baffled" when police called him in for questioning. |
"They [the police] knocked on my door at six in the morning and it was the national police and they asked me to come with them and I obliged," he said. | "They [the police] knocked on my door at six in the morning and it was the national police and they asked me to come with them and I obliged," he said. |
"It was very surprising. When they asked me details, I said whatever I know." | "It was very surprising. When they asked me details, I said whatever I know." |
He and Mr Olmert, he added, were "very, very friendly" and had often had dinner together in New York. | He and Mr Olmert, he added, were "very, very friendly" and had often had dinner together in New York. |
Other investigations | Other investigations |
Mr Olmert became prime minister after the incumbent Ariel Sharon suffered a massive stroke in January 2006. He led the Kadima party founded by Mr Sharon to victory in general election two months later. | |
"A state like Israel, with an existential threat, needs a full-time prime minister," said Arieh Eldad of the hardline National Union party. | |
"We need a much better leader at this time, and Israel should go to general elections in order to replace him with a better government,» Mr Eldad said. | |
"I was elected by you, citizens of Israel, to be the prime minister and I don't intend to shirk this responsibility," Mr Olmert said on Thursday. | |
In November 2007, Israeli police dropped an investigation into Mr Olmert in connection with a bank privatisation. | In November 2007, Israeli police dropped an investigation into Mr Olmert in connection with a bank privatisation. |
At the time, they were still investigating two other cases in which Mr Olmert is alleged to have behaved improperly. | At the time, they were still investigating two other cases in which Mr Olmert is alleged to have behaved improperly. |
The prime minister has never been charged or convicted in any of the cases. | The prime minister has never been charged or convicted in any of the cases. |
Regarding the latest allegation, he said he hoped the "storm" would "pass with the same speed by which it was ignited". | Regarding the latest allegation, he said he hoped the "storm" would "pass with the same speed by which it was ignited". |
In their statement on Thursday, Israeli police said they had made clear to Mr Olmert that the investigation would continue "on another date". | In their statement on Thursday, Israeli police said they had made clear to Mr Olmert that the investigation would continue "on another date". |