GAZA
CITY, January 21 (IslamOnline.net) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon’s career is hanging in the balance now that an Israeli
businessman has been charged Wednesday, January 21, with offering
bribes to Sharon at the end of the 1990s.
David
Appel, a key behind-the-scene figure in the right-wing Likud party,
was indicted by Tel Aviv Magistrates court for giving Sharon, his son
Gilad and deputy Ehud Olmert hundreds of thousands of dollars to
promote a huge tourism project, reported Israeli Haaretz newspaper.
The
so-called "Greek Island affair" took place in the late 1990s
when Sharon was the country's top diplomat in the right-wing
government of Benjamin Netanyahu, while Olmert was the mayor of
occupied Jerusalem.
In
his capacity as foreign minister Sharon, the indictment sheet said,
tried to help win Greek government approval for Appel's plan and
helped the Israeli tycoon in real estate dealings "before and
after becoming prime minister".
"During
[1998-99] ... Appel gave Ariel Sharon a bribe in recognition of
activities connected to the fulfillment of his public positions,"
said the indictment, a copy of which was obtained by Haaretz.
The
charge sheet also said that Olmert hosted an event in honor of the
Athens mayor to help advance the Apple's ambitions.
The
indictment further implied that Sharon and Olmert were "active
participants in the bribery deals", the Israeli paper said.
The
State Prosecutor's Office said Sharon's son Gilad "stood to earn
good money from Appel's project".
"Appel
hired Gilad, ostensibly to be a marketing advisor on the Greek island
project, even though he knew that Gilad did not have the necessary
experience or skills," it said.
The
charge sheet indicated that $100,000 had been actually paid out to
Gilad and NIS 2.6 million was transferred to a ranch owned by Sharon.
Following
the collapse of the project, Appel would have continued to pay Gilad
tens of thousands of shekels for help in other property deals in
Israel.
'Political
Earthquake'
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|
"This is very sad, very grave, but this is the reality of Israel in 2004," said Pines-Paz
|
The
new scandal sent shockwaves in Israel as the future of the Sharon's
premiership hang in the balance.
Labor
legislator Ophir Pines-Paz described the affair as an unprecedented
"political earthquake".
Politicians
have said Sharon himself could face charges in the future, and would
then be forced to step down.
"This
is very sad, very grave, but this is the reality of Israel in
2004," said the legislator.
Labor
MK and former cabinet minister Avraham Shohat also called for Sharon's
resignation, Haaretz said.
"He
should already have resigned in the light of earlier events, what
happened today is just an extra. He is polluting the atmosphere."
There
were signs within Likud circles that the party was preparing for the
possibility that Sharon’s premiership might not last out the year.
Sharon
was
grilled by Israeli police last October over a simmering
corruption scandal involving his two sons.
He
had been accused of using
a 1.5-million-dollar loan from South African businessman
Cyril Kern to return contributions for his 1999 campaign for the Likud
leadership.
