Olmert quizzed again in corruption probe

Israeli police have questioned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for the fourth time in a corruption investigation that has brought about his political downfall.

The session was the latest round of questioning on suspicions that Mr Olmert improperly accepted money from an American businessman. Another case involves alleged violations in funding trips abroad.

While police have not charged Mr Olmert, public anger over allegations that he had a lavish lifestyle further damaged already dismal approval ratings.

Mr Olmert announced on Wednesday that he will resign after his Kadima Party holds primaries next month to replace him.

The investigation has seriously hampered Mr Olmert’s ability to conclude peace deals with the Palestinians and Syria, although he has said he will persist in those efforts as long as he is premier.

Police officers questioned Mr Olmert at his Jerusalem residence for three hours, his spokesman, Amir Dan, said.

“The prime minister answered all of the investigators’ questions,” Mr Dan said. “Of his own volition, he suggested adding an hour to the questioning. The questions were to the point.”

Dates will be set next week for further questioning, Mr Dan said.

The most damaging inquiry focuses on American Jewish businessman Morris Talansky, 76, who testified he gave Olmert envelopes stuffed with tens of thousands of dollars before he became prime minister, in part to finance Mr Olmert’s lifestyle of expensive hotels and fat cigars.

The latest allegation is that Mr Olmert double and triple-charged for trips abroad to Jewish institutions, pocketing the difference or financing trips for relatives.

The opposition has called for national elections in the wake of Mr Olmert’s decision to step down. While Mr Olmert’s Kadima Party hoped to settle the leadership crisis internally in a matter of weeks, national elections would raise the prospect of a lengthy campaign that would further stall peace talks.