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Ehud Olmert, Israeli Ex-Prime Minister, Granted Early Release from Prison Ehud Olmert, Israeli Ex-Prime Minister, Granted Early Release from Prison
(35 minutes later)
JERUSALEM — Ehud Olmert, the former prime minister of Israel who is serving a 27-month sentence for bribery, fraud, obstruction of justice and breach of trust, will be released on Sunday after a parole board cut his sentence by a third. JERUSALEM — Ehud Olmert, the former prime minister of Israel who is serving a 27-month sentence for bribery, fraud, obstruction of justice and breach of trust, is expected to be released on Sunday after a parole board cut his sentence by a third.
The board’s decision on Thursday appeared to be the close of a drawn-out legal saga that has roiled Israeli society and politics for years. Mr. Olmert, forced to resign during the last serious round of peace talks with the Palestinians, was the first former head of government to be imprisoned for misconduct in Israel, though the crimes for which he was committed did not take place during his tenure as prime minister, from 2006 to 2009. The board’s decision on Thursday appeared to close a legal saga that has roiled Israeli society and politics for years. Mr. Olmert, forced to resign during an intensive, if inconclusive, round of peace talks with the Palestinians, was the first former head of government to be imprisoned for misconduct in Israel, though the crimes for which he was convicted did not take place during his tenure as prime minister, from 2006 to 2009.
Mr. Olmert entered prison in February 2016 after being convicted in two cases on charges of bribery, obstruction of justice, fraud and breach of trust. He acknowledged having made “mistakes” but has consistently denied criminal wrongdoing. Mr. Olmert entered prison in February 2016 after being convicted in various cases on charges of bribery, obstruction of justice, fraud and breach of trust. He acknowledged having made “mistakes” but has consistently denied criminal wrongdoing.
The parole board’s decision came to Mr. Olmert, 71, as a great relief, his lawyers said. Prosecutors, who opposed a commutation of the sentence, had until the end of Thursday to appeal for a delay in the execution of the order, and it was not immediately clear if they would do so. The parole board’s decision was a great relief to Mr. Olmert, 71, his lawyers said. Prosecutors, who opposed a commutation of the sentence, had until the end of Thursday to appeal for a delay in the execution of the order, but it was not immediately clear if they would do so.
While Mr. Olmert described his fall as “painful and strange” at the time, the weeks leading up to the decision for his release have been no less tumultuous. Mr. Olmert described his fall as “painful and strange” at the time, and the weeks leading up to the decision for his release have been no less tumultuous.
Police have been looking into the possibility that Mr. Olmert mishandled classified information when he gave part of a manuscript that he had written behind bars to one of his lawyers to take out of the prison. The police have been looking into the possibility that Mr. Olmert mishandled classified information when he gave part of a manuscript that he had written behind bars to one of his lawyers to take out of the prison.
Mr. Olmert’s lawyers argued that the manuscript would be subject to military censorship before publication and that there had been no security breach.Mr. Olmert’s lawyers argued that the manuscript would be subject to military censorship before publication and that there had been no security breach.
Mr. Olmert — who as prime minister led a monthlong war against Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006 and held extensive peace negotiations with the Palestinians and indirect talks with Syria — complained during a recent parole board hearing that the authorities were turning him into a “traitor,” according to reports in the Israeli news media. Mr. Olmert — who as prime minister led a monthlong war against Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006 and held extensive peace negotiations with the Palestinians and indirect talks with Syria — complained during a recent parole board hearing that the authorities were turning him into a “traitor,” according to Israeli news reports.
Israel has remained silent about a 2007 airstrike that was widely attributed to it and that took place during Mr. Olmert’s tenure, destroying a nuclear reactor that was under construction in Syria.Israel has remained silent about a 2007 airstrike that was widely attributed to it and that took place during Mr. Olmert’s tenure, destroying a nuclear reactor that was under construction in Syria.
The police investigation this month prompted a public uproar and increased sympathy for Mr. Olmert after officers raided the offices of the publishers of his memoir, Yedioth Books, as well as the home of his editor, seizing material including content unrelated to Mr. Olmert’s book and, in the view of many Israeli critics, vastly overstepping their authority. A judge examining a case brought by Yedioth Books for the return of the materials warned that the raids and seizures undermined freedom of speech and the freedom of the press, cornerstones of the country’s democratic system. The police inquiry this month prompted a public uproar and increased sympathy for Mr. Olmert after a raid at the offices of Yedioth Books, the publisher of his memoir, as well as at the home of his editor. Officers seized material that was unrelated to Mr. Olmert’s book, a move that many Israeli critics saw as vastly overstepping their authority. A judge examining a case brought by Yedioth Books for the return of the materials warned that the raids and seizures undermined freedom of speech and the freedom of the press, cornerstones of the country’s democratic system.
Amid the brouhaha, Mr. Olmert suffered chest pain and was hospitalized for a week. He was released on Tuesday. Amid the brouhaha, Mr. Olmert suffered chest pain and was hospitalized for a week. He was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday.
Mr. Olmert’s legal troubles began in 2008, two years after he became prime minister, and he was forced to resign from office under the growing weight of police investigations. A lawyer by profession, he entered public life in his 20s. he was convicted of taking bribes while he was mayor of Jerusalem — a role he filled from 1993 to 2003 — in part to facilitate the construction of a large housing complex known as Holyland, despite fierce local opposition. Mr. Olmert’s legal troubles began in 2008, two years after he became prime minister, and he was forced to resign from office under the growing weight of police investigations. A lawyer by profession, he entered public life in his 20s. He was convicted of taking bribes as mayor of Jerusalem — a role he filled from 1993 to 2003 — in part to facilitate the construction of a large housing complex known as Holyland, despite fierce local opposition.
Originally sentenced to six years in prison, Mr. Olmert had his prison term reduced significantly after the Israeli Supreme Court overturned a main part of his conviction relating to the housing project. He was also serving time for a separate case involving his relations with an American businessman, Morris Talansky. While some of the charges related to a period when he was serving as a government minister, none pertained to his time as prime minister. Originally sentenced to six years in prison, Mr. Olmert had his prison term reduced significantly after the Israeli Supreme Court overturned a main part of his conviction relating to the housing project. He was also serving time for a separate case involving his relations with an American businessman, Morris Talansky. Some of the charges related to a period when he was serving as a government minister, but none pertained to his time as prime minister.
Mr. Olmert is not expected to make a formal political comeback any time soon; the law bars him from political office for seven years. Mr. Olmert is not expected to make a formal political comeback anytime soon; the law bars him from holding office for seven years.
There was little sign of a public outcry as news of the parole board’s decision filtered through Israeli society; many observers seemed ready to move on.There was little sign of a public outcry as news of the parole board’s decision filtered through Israeli society; many observers seemed ready to move on.
Some political rivals have come out in support of Mr. Olmert in recent weeks. Naftali Bennett, the education minister and leader of the right-wing Jewish Home party, wrote in a Facebook post on June 23: “It is time to release Ehud Olmert. Despite our differences of opinion, there is no argument over Prime Minister Olmert’s decisive contribution to the security of Israel.” He added, “The time has come for a degree of mercy.”Some political rivals have come out in support of Mr. Olmert in recent weeks. Naftali Bennett, the education minister and leader of the right-wing Jewish Home party, wrote in a Facebook post on June 23: “It is time to release Ehud Olmert. Despite our differences of opinion, there is no argument over Prime Minister Olmert’s decisive contribution to the security of Israel.” He added, “The time has come for a degree of mercy.”