Tycoon David Appel was indicted this morning on suspicion of bribing Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert in connection with his plans to build the world's largest vacation resort on a Greek island he wished to purchase. Sharon and Olmert, who served at the time as Foreign Minister and Jerusalem Mayor, respectively, have not been charged - but the political establishment is in suspense at the expected political fallout.
It was reportedly the first time that anyone has been charged with bribing a present or future Prime Minister of Israel.
Today's indictment, an amendment to an earlier one, charges Appel with paying Sharon's son Gilad some three million dollars for serving as "consultant" - a job that largely entailed surfing the internet for information on tourism. The suspicion is that Appel actually intended to "purchase" his employee's father's influence-peddling abilities. He is alleged to have told Ariel Sharon, "Your son will make a lot of money." It should be noted that parts of the Greek island belong to the Greek Orthodox Church, and that the Prime Minister has long favored the controversial appointment of Irineos as Patriarch of the Church.
Appel is similarly accused of bribing Trade Minister Ehud Olmert when the latter served as Mayor of Jerusalem. The suspicion is that Appel's financial support for Olmert when the latter ran for Knesset came in exchange for Olmert's help in connecting Appel with Greek officials. Neither Ariel Sharon nor Olmert have been charged, as of now, with accepting the bribes - a seeming anomaly that has precedents in Israeli and other law systems.
Appel and his lawyer, Moshe Yisrael, continue to insist that the indictment is "nonsense," that no bribes were given or taken, that the law enforcement agencies are acting unfairly towards them - for example, by not providing them with a copy of the indictment before it was issued in court - and that there is no doubt that Appel's innocence will be proven in court. Many analysts believe that Prime Minister Sharon, however, will be the subject of intensified pressures to resign.
It was reportedly the first time that anyone has been charged with bribing a present or future Prime Minister of Israel.
Today's indictment, an amendment to an earlier one, charges Appel with paying Sharon's son Gilad some three million dollars for serving as "consultant" - a job that largely entailed surfing the internet for information on tourism. The suspicion is that Appel actually intended to "purchase" his employee's father's influence-peddling abilities. He is alleged to have told Ariel Sharon, "Your son will make a lot of money." It should be noted that parts of the Greek island belong to the Greek Orthodox Church, and that the Prime Minister has long favored the controversial appointment of Irineos as Patriarch of the Church.
Appel is similarly accused of bribing Trade Minister Ehud Olmert when the latter served as Mayor of Jerusalem. The suspicion is that Appel's financial support for Olmert when the latter ran for Knesset came in exchange for Olmert's help in connecting Appel with Greek officials. Neither Ariel Sharon nor Olmert have been charged, as of now, with accepting the bribes - a seeming anomaly that has precedents in Israeli and other law systems.
Appel and his lawyer, Moshe Yisrael, continue to insist that the indictment is "nonsense," that no bribes were given or taken, that the law enforcement agencies are acting unfairly towards them - for example, by not providing them with a copy of the indictment before it was issued in court - and that there is no doubt that Appel's innocence will be proven in court. Many analysts believe that Prime Minister Sharon, however, will be the subject of intensified pressures to resign.