Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 10/14 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 11. Mai – 24. Mai 2014 1. Gerichtsurteil im Fall Olmert Israels ehemaliger Ministerpräsident Ehud Olmert ist zu sechs Jahren Gefängnis und umgerechnet rund 200.000 Euro Strafe wegen Korruption verurteilt worden. Der 68-jährige Politiker ist für schuldig befunden worden, beim Jerusalemer"Holyland" Bauprojekt vor sechs Jahren knapp 100 000 Euro von einer Immobilienfirma erhalten zu haben. Die Reaktionen in der Bevölkerung sind gespalten: Einerseits wird bekräftigt, dass in einer Demokratie jeder gleich behandelt werden muss, andererseits wird betont, dass die Erfolge Olmerts nicht in das Strafmaß eingeflossen sind. Olmert soll die Gefängnisstrafe im September antreten, hat aber bereits angekündigt, in Berufung gehen zu wollen. Bis zu einem Urteil des Obersten Gerichtshofs kann die Strafe ausgesetzt werden. Closure forJerusalemites ” Initially, for us Jerusalemites, Ehud Olmert was our great hope.[...] But as time went by, we realized that instead of developing into one of the world's most advanced cities, as would befit Israel's capital, Jerusalem was quickly deteriorating into third-world status. When Olmert left city hall in 2003 to become a minister in Ariel Sharon's second government, we had a feeling that he wanted to escape, which was easy to understand given the state of the city at the time. Olmert left behind enormous debts, failing municipal services, a mass exodus of quality residents from the city and, most of all, emptiness, just plain emptiness. Everyone had heard that Olmert was not averse to promoting his personal interests, but the fear of defamation suits led his critics to act with excessive caution.[...] The heavy sentence Olmert received on Tuesday gave retroactive affirmation to these feelings. The sentence given to Olmert on Tuesday provided Jerusalem residents with closure. On one hand, it is sad that a promising politician turned out to be a complete failure. On the other hand, it is satisfying that Olmert learned that everyone is equal before the law. This is how things work in a properly run country." Eli Hazan, IHY, 14.05.14 Judge crossed a line in calling Olmert'traitor' "Arrogance was Judge David Rozen's sin on Tuesday. From his high seat, he acted like a power­stricken person, who believes that nothing stands in his way.'Traitor,' he lashed out at Ehud Olmert, 'criminal.''Piggery,' he said. I refuse to believe that a judge in the State of Israel is capable of saying such words.[...] Accusing Olmert of treason is crossing a line. Judge Rozen stated that he had read the 19 letters written by heads of institutions and associations for the poor and Holocaust survivors in favor of the former prime minister who helped them. Rozen may have read the letters, but he shut his heart." Shimon Shiffer, YNN 15.05.14 The problem Olmert’s sentence can’t fix "The six-year jail sentence received by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last week has been hailed as a great victory in the war on corruption, a sentence sure to deter other officials. Former Tel Aviv District Court Judge Amnon Straschnov begs to differ.[...] Investigation, indictment and conviction will affect neither his social life nor his job prospects. And even if he goes to jail, once he’s out, he’ll be welc omed back into society, the media, the job market and public life[...]. Even worse, however, is that corrupt officials suffer no other public consequences either. And nothing illustrates this better than Olmert himself.[...] 1