State Comptroller and Ombudsman Micha Lindenstrauss [pictured above], a retired judge, last week issued a critical report on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's appointments when he was Industry and Trade Minister in the Sharon administration, but he did not advise a probe until Sunday evening.
When he was Trade Minister, both Olmert and his chief of staff allegedly created lucrative management positions for Likud Central Committee members in the ministry's Small Business Authority. The Prime Minister has stated that the charges are unfounded, explaining that the positions were created according to an outside management report and that he was not involved in the appointments.
A police probe is pending a decision by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, who has not yet commented on the report. The State Comptroller acts as the government ombudsman and investigates possible wrongdoing on his own initiative and on complaints from the public.
In addition, Judge Lindenstrauss has been examining a real estate deal in which Prime Minister Olmert bought an apartment under market value and then sold it to an American backer at a higher-than-market value. Most of the Israeli media ignored the issue until journalist Yoav Yitzchak relentlessly kept it in the limelight on his Hebrew news site News First Class.
Judge Lindenstrauss's recommendation comes just after publication of the fact that two ministers, Haim Ramon and Tzachi HaNegbi, also face criminal probes; Ramon for sexual misconduct and HaNegbi for financial misconduct. HaNegbi has been indicted, but still chairs the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
The timing of the suggestion for a probe is bad for the Prime Minister, who is facing a test of public trust in his bid to block initiatives for an independent state inquiry into the government and military management of the war against Hizbullah terrorists.
A state commission is headed by a retired judge, who has the power to summon witnesses and can advise if criminal charges should be placed; whereas, a government commission cannot force witnesses to appear.
Prime Minister Olmert tried to get by with a panel appointed by Defense Minister Amir Peretz, but widespread criticism forced the committee to disband before it started work.
When he was Trade Minister, both Olmert and his chief of staff allegedly created lucrative management positions for Likud Central Committee members in the ministry's Small Business Authority. The Prime Minister has stated that the charges are unfounded, explaining that the positions were created according to an outside management report and that he was not involved in the appointments.
A police probe is pending a decision by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, who has not yet commented on the report. The State Comptroller acts as the government ombudsman and investigates possible wrongdoing on his own initiative and on complaints from the public.
In addition, Judge Lindenstrauss has been examining a real estate deal in which Prime Minister Olmert bought an apartment under market value and then sold it to an American backer at a higher-than-market value. Most of the Israeli media ignored the issue until journalist Yoav Yitzchak relentlessly kept it in the limelight on his Hebrew news site News First Class.
Judge Lindenstrauss's recommendation comes just after publication of the fact that two ministers, Haim Ramon and Tzachi HaNegbi, also face criminal probes; Ramon for sexual misconduct and HaNegbi for financial misconduct. HaNegbi has been indicted, but still chairs the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
The timing of the suggestion for a probe is bad for the Prime Minister, who is facing a test of public trust in his bid to block initiatives for an independent state inquiry into the government and military management of the war against Hizbullah terrorists.
A state commission is headed by a retired judge, who has the power to summon witnesses and can advise if criminal charges should be placed; whereas, a government commission cannot force witnesses to appear.
Prime Minister Olmert tried to get by with a panel appointed by Defense Minister Amir Peretz, but widespread criticism forced the committee to disband before it started work.