Three weeks ahead of elections, a new scandal seems to be breaking Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s drive for reelection. News surfaced this week that Israel's State Attorney is investigating a $1.5-million low-interest loan obtained by Sharon’s two sons, Gilad and Omri, last year from South African businessman Cyril Kern.
The funds were supposedly used as collateral to secure a loan to repay illegal donations accepted by Sharon during his 1999 campaign, reported Haaretz. At the time, Sharon failed to mention Kern’s contribution and told the police that he had raised the loan by mortgaging his ranch. Political contributions from abroad are illegal in Israel.
The alleged cover-up affair already took its toll on the popularity of Sharon’s ruling Likud party in early media polls. Sharon issued an angry denunciation Wednesday, January 8, dismissing the corruption reports as “vicious political slander” and “a despicable libel, which I will disprove with documents and facts.” The probe is not expected to reach its conclusion before Election Day, January 28.
The Likud party had already begun to loose public support following its December primary elections, in which candidates reportedly managed to secure parliament seats through the support of criminal elements and vote buying. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
