Police said they will question outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for the 10th time on Friday on suspicion of graft. However, he is conducting "business as usual" and plans to bring his ideas on Jerusalem and the Golan Heights to President-elect Barack Obama later this month.
Police investigators will question him for approximately two and a half hours, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Wednesday. Two months ago, police advised Attorney General Menachem Mazuz that Olmert should be indicted for accepting from American businessman Morris (Moshe) Talansky illegal cash contributions amounting to more than $150,000. Mazuz previously has stated that he will wait to deliver his decision on whether or not to indict the prime minister until after the elections.
Olmert also is suspected of pocketing profits gained from double billing for personal trips overseas. Olmert has maintained his innocence throughout these and prior investigations that began two years ago involving property deals, investments and appointments of political cronies.
Although he officially resigned as prime minister in mid-September, he continues serving in a transitional government until general elections in February.
Legally, he cannot make any major policy changes, but he is continuing to promote his plan to divide Jerusalem and surrender most if not all of the Golan Heights to Syria. Olmert will pay a farewell visit to outgoing United States President George W. Bush later this month.
He also is expected to meet with President-elect Obama and present his plans, which would give the new administration a basis for demanding that the next government continue along the same path.