"Am I therefore become your enemy,because I TELL YOU THE TRUTH...?"
(Galatians 4:16)

Israeli police quiz Olmert again on corruption

JERUSALEM-Israeli police questioned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for a seventh time on Friday as part of a corruption investigation that has jeopardized peace talks with the Palestinians and shaken Israel's political system.Olmert, who denies any wrongdoing, has pledged to step down once his centrist Kadima party chooses a new leader in a September 17 contest in which the leading contenders are Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz.Micky Rosenberg, a spokesman for national police, said "the prime minister will be questioned for a seventh time" in a session that would last about two and a half hours.Amir Dan, a spokesman for Olmert, said police were questioning him at his official residence in Jerusalem.Israeli media said police would ask Olmert about suspicions he received a discount to buy an apartment in exchange for favors, and named cronies to a state business authority when he served as trade minister.Olmert has also been accused of accepting cash envelopes from a U.S. Jewish fundraiser and submitting duplicate travel expense claims while serving in a previous government role.If Olmert resigns, he would stay on as caretaker prime minister for the weeks it could take his successor to form a new government, which would likely further delay already halting U.S.-sponsored peace negotiations.On a visit this week, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she continued to aim for a peace accord before President George W. Bush leaves office in January, though many analysts are sceptical she can achieve a breakthrough.

As in the days of Noah...