Current Probe Is Fifth against Olmert

The current investigation against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is the fifth to be conducted in two years. In March of 2006 he was cleared of wrongdoing in the sale of a Jerusalem apartment and was questioned about the purchase of a dwelling in Tel Aviv. That case also was closed. In January 2007, authorities investigated him concerning the sale of the government's shares of Bank Leumi when he was Finance Minister. The case was closed last November despite pressing questions by State Comptroller and Ombudsman Micha Lindenstrauss.

Last September, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz opened up a probe surrounding the purchase and sale of a home in Jerusalem, and the following month an investigation began on suspicion he granted political favors when he was Industry Trade and Labor Minister.

The Prime Minister also survived the Winograd Committee investigation of the government's conduct in the Second Lebanon War. The committee severely censured the Prime Minister in its interim report but then issued milder criticism in its final report.