The criticism of the light sentence meted out to former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert by rightwing politicians continued Monday afternoon, but politicians on the left were none too happy with the sentence as well. Meretz head Zahava Gal-on said that “an Israel Prime Minister must not be guilty of even a single criminal count. The fact that Olmert was convicted of breach of trust means that he must be kept away from the political system forever.”

Gal-on added that “even though Olmert received only a suspended sentence, the sentence paints a picture of a corrupt politician, who used his power to enrich himself and his friends. No court decision will be able to erase the 'mark of Cain' that has attached itself to Olmert,” she added.