FORMER PRIME MINISTER INDICTED, FORMER MINISTERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001918

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV IS
SUBJECT: FORMER PRIME MINISTER INDICTED, FORMER MINISTERS
SENT TO PRISON

REF: A. TEL AVIV 01717

B. TEL AVIV 01579

C. TEL AVIV 01437

D. TEL AVIV 01337

Classified By: Political Counselor Marc J. Sievers for reasons 1.4 (b),
(d).


1. (SBU) The past few days have highlighted, for better and
for worse, corruption and ethical conduct among Israel's
political elite. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was
indicted on August 30 on charges breach of trust and
fraudulent conduct. Meantime, Olmert's former Finance
Minister Avraham Hirschson on September 1 reported to prison
to serve more than five years after being convicted of
stealing nearly a half-million dollars from a labor
federation. Another former minister, Shlomo Benizri of SHAS,
reported to prison the same day to serve a four year sentence
after he was convicted of breach of trust, taking bribes,
obstructing justice, and committing fraud. Finally,
testimony began this week in the trial of former President
Moshe Katsav, who is charged with sexual offenses against
three of his former employees, including rape, indecent acts,
and sexual harassment. Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin,
commenting on Hirschson and Benizri going to jail on the same
day, said it was a sad day for the Knesset and for the
culture of government in Israel, but he said it proves that
all are equal before the law.


2. (SBU) Political corruption in ISRAEL has not had the
stigma it has in the United States, and past Attorneys
General have either not made prosecuting such crimes a
priority, or they have failed to methodically build their
cases so that indictments led to convictions. Attorney
General Menachem Mazuz, however, has pursued corruption cases
with vigor since his appointment in 2004, and Israeli
commentators speculate that attacks by politicians and
lawyers against him have further motivated him to pursue the
investigations. Mazuz's thorough investigations, his
determination, and his history of success prosecuting
corruption cases does not bode well for Foreign Minister
Avidgor Liberman, the target of what is likely Mazuz's last
high-profile case before he steps down in the coming months.
Commentators expect Mazuz to indict Liberman on charges of
bribery, money laundering, obstruction of justice, fraud, and
breach of trust. Mazuz's replacement -- early rumors point
to Noam Solberg -- would then prosecute the case on behalf of
the government.


3. (C) COMMENT: Israeli media covered these events in great
detail this week, and the public appears largely satisfied
with the capacity of the legal system to hold politicians to
account. The next 12 to 18 months, however, should shed
additional light on Israeli legal and cultural norms
regarding corruption, as the trial of a former prime
minister, along with a likely case against a combative
foreign minister, will keep the issue at center stage. An
additional factor that will help determine how corruption is
viewed in ISRAEL will be the conduct of the next attorney
general. If he or she is reluctant to expend resources on
corruption or ethics-related cases, it could undermine any
deterrent effect that might have emerged under Mazuz's tenure.

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CUNNINGHAM