Ariel Sharon's leadership came under heavy fire Wednesday over the impact of bribery allegations, as Ophir Pines-Paz, a legislator from the Labor party called the entire affair an unprecedented "political earthquake," adding that in a country of proper standards, the prime minister would have been forced to resign a long time ago.
Real estate developer and Likud kingmaker David Appel was charged Wednesday with a number of offenses, including allegedly offering bribes to Sharon and deputy prime minister and former Jerusalem mayor, Ehud Olmert, Haaretz website reported.
The charges also mention Sharon's son [Gilad], who allegedly received large amounts of money as a marketing consultant on a major project that Appel planned but did not carry out, a holiday resort on an island in Greece.
The prime minister, his son, and Olmert have denied all wrongdoing in the affair. However, rival politicians have said the prime minister 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. There's Sopranos on television, and there's Sopranos in Israel," Pines-Paz said.
Labor MP and former cabinet minister Avraham Shohat also called for Sharon's resignation. "He should already have resigned in the light of earlier events, what happened today is just an extra. He is polluting the atmosphere."
MP Amram Mitzna said the "latest developments in the Greek island affair and the amended indictment against [businessman] David Appel raise tough questions over the penetration of organized crime in the heart of Israel's government."
"The prime minister, who only last week declared an all-out war against organized crime, should serve as a personal example and step down", Mitzna added.
Sources close to the prime minister played down the seriousness of the affair, claiming that no proof existed of wrongdoing on the part of Sharon. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
