The indictment against businessman David Appel regarding alleged bribes to Prime Minister Sharon, Minister Ehud Olmert and others has, on the surface, not affected Sharon's daily routine. "I am continuing my work as usual, and I have no intention of resigning," Sharon said last night. "I am confident that I will be able to complete my current term in office." Several politicians from the opposition, as expected, have called for the Prime Minister's resignation in light of the suspicions raised against him in the indictment.
Lawyers for Appel say that the very fact that none of the several alleged recipients of Appel's bribes were indicted shows the weakness of the case against his client. Sources in the Justice Ministry say, however, that they are awaiting final information regarding the papers in Gilad Sharon's possession before making a decision whether or not to indict the Prime Minister. Ironically, the final decision will be made by the new Attorney-General - likely to be Meni Mazoz - who will assume the post next week. He served as deputy to the previous Attorney-General, Elyakim Rubenstein. State Prosecutor Edna Arbel has already made known her position in favor of indicting Sharon, while Mazoz has come out in the past against the many indictments of public figures over the past decade that ended with acquittals.
Most analysts assume that Sharon himself will not be indicted, but that his son Gilad will - which will still leave the Prime Minister in an unenviable political position.
Opposition leader Shimon Peres says that Sharon has some explaining to do: "I have been a friend of Arik for 50 years, and I'm not hiding it. Israel is facing a difficult hour, and the situation requires the Prime Minister to explain his position. I am neither an investigator nor a judge, but the fog has to be cleared up, for the country's sake." The Labor Party submitted a no-confidence motion against the government in light of the indictment against Appel.
Justice Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid of the Shinui party said that if Sharon or Olmert are indicted, they would have to resign. MKs from Labor and Meretz had strong criticism of Shinui, saying that they should demand Sharon's resignation at once. "If someone from Shas had been mentioned in an indictment as having been the target of a bribe," said MK Chaim Ramon (Labor), "[they] would have immediately jumped and accused Shas of corruption and everything else. But in this case, [they're] quiet." Shinui's Interior Minister Avraham Poraz responded that it has already been established that a government minister need not resign if he has not been indicted.
Shas, for its part, has already established a campaign committee, under the assumption that new elections will be held towards the beginning of 2005. Previous elections in Israel were held in early 2003 and early 2001.
The Likud, too, is preparing - quietly - for the possibility of Sharon's resignation. The front-runner to succeed him is Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, but Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Education Minister Limor Livnat and Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz also want a shot. MK Gideon Saar is preparing legislation that will give the President 21 days, instead of the current 7, to choose a successor to a resigned Prime Minister. This will enable the Likud to hold primaries to choose its new leader.
Lawyers for Appel say that the very fact that none of the several alleged recipients of Appel's bribes were indicted shows the weakness of the case against his client. Sources in the Justice Ministry say, however, that they are awaiting final information regarding the papers in Gilad Sharon's possession before making a decision whether or not to indict the Prime Minister. Ironically, the final decision will be made by the new Attorney-General - likely to be Meni Mazoz - who will assume the post next week. He served as deputy to the previous Attorney-General, Elyakim Rubenstein. State Prosecutor Edna Arbel has already made known her position in favor of indicting Sharon, while Mazoz has come out in the past against the many indictments of public figures over the past decade that ended with acquittals.
Most analysts assume that Sharon himself will not be indicted, but that his son Gilad will - which will still leave the Prime Minister in an unenviable political position.
Opposition leader Shimon Peres says that Sharon has some explaining to do: "I have been a friend of Arik for 50 years, and I'm not hiding it. Israel is facing a difficult hour, and the situation requires the Prime Minister to explain his position. I am neither an investigator nor a judge, but the fog has to be cleared up, for the country's sake." The Labor Party submitted a no-confidence motion against the government in light of the indictment against Appel.
Justice Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid of the Shinui party said that if Sharon or Olmert are indicted, they would have to resign. MKs from Labor and Meretz had strong criticism of Shinui, saying that they should demand Sharon's resignation at once. "If someone from Shas had been mentioned in an indictment as having been the target of a bribe," said MK Chaim Ramon (Labor), "[they] would have immediately jumped and accused Shas of corruption and everything else. But in this case, [they're] quiet." Shinui's Interior Minister Avraham Poraz responded that it has already been established that a government minister need not resign if he has not been indicted.
Shas, for its part, has already established a campaign committee, under the assumption that new elections will be held towards the beginning of 2005. Previous elections in Israel were held in early 2003 and early 2001.
The Likud, too, is preparing - quietly - for the possibility of Sharon's resignation. The front-runner to succeed him is Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, but Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Education Minister Limor Livnat and Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz also want a shot. MK Gideon Saar is preparing legislation that will give the President 21 days, instead of the current 7, to choose a successor to a resigned Prime Minister. This will enable the Likud to hold primaries to choose its new leader.