Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is suspected in another case of corruption, allegedly perpetrated during his previous tenure as Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor, when he allegedly ordered advancement of an investment project.
State Comptroller and Ombudsman Micha Lindenstrauss charged Wednesday that Olmert and his aides pressured officials to approve grants for investors even before experts had submitted their report on the project.
"This incident is in addition to similar cases in which Trade Minister Ehud Olmert intervened, whether directly or indirectly via his assistants, in the activity of the Investment Center," according to the Comptroller's report.
The project, which was promoted by American developers, involved the construction of a joint Israeli-Jordanian casino and hotel complex near the Israeli Red Sea resort city of Eilat. The “Aquaria” recreation complex would have spread out over 1,300 dunams in an area north of Eilat at a cost of approximately $100 million.
Olmert was directly involved in meeting with the American investors. One of those who allegedly would have profited from the project was Uri Messer, Olmert’s close friend and personal attorney.
The Prime Minister’s Office responded Wednesday to the latest corruption charges with a statement to the media that asserted, "The Tourism and Finance ministries agreed to promote this project after several probes…. The Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry acted according to the professional perception and in cooperation with the other government offices involved in the issue."