The office of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has categorically denied a report by the Al Jazeera network, based in Qatar, that he will suspend himself next week. The network quoted unnamed government sources that the Prime Minister will suspend himself until the current investigation against him is competed and a decision is made whether to clear him of charges or indict him. If he resigns or suspends himself, Foreign Minster Tzipi Livni will take his place.

The courts have slapped a gag order on reporting details of the latest probe, but the New York Post has revealed it involves a New York businessman. who previously has been accused of being involved with money laundering. Prime Minister Olmert charged on Tuesday night that the current investigation was instigated by elements that are against his policies of achieving an agreement with the Palestinian Authority (PA) for a new Arab state within Israel's current borders and would include eastern Jerusalem. He previously has promised he never would divide the capital.

The businessman named by the newspaper has been a contributor to politicians across the political spectrum, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Hillary Clinton.