RAMALLAH, West Bank, 2 April 2008 — An Israeli court convicted a lawmaker and former Cabinet minister yesterday of taking bribes and conspiring to cover it up, the latest corruption scandal to tarnish Israeli politics.
The Jerusalem District Court convicted Shlomo Benizri of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party of accepting bribes from a contractor while serving in a string of ministerial positions, according to court documents.
The contractor donated money to a Jewish seminary linked to Benizri, bought him furniture and an air conditioner and renovated his apartment. In return, Benizri intervened to help the contractor’s business interests by passing on classified information and granting him valuable permits to bring foreign workers to Israel.
Yesterday’s conviction is only the latest in a recent slew of embarrassing cases involving Israeli politicians. The country’s former president signed a plea bargain admitting to sexually harassing several women workers, and a senior Cabinet minister was convicted of sexual misconduct for forcibly kissing a young woman soldier.
The former finance minister resigned in disgrace facing embezzlement charges. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert himself has been dogged by persistent allegations of improper real estate deals, but has never been indicted.
In yesterday’s decision, the court also convicted a rabbi who served as Benizri’s spiritual mentor of mediating between the politician and the contractor.
After he was charged, Benizri’s Shas Party removed him from his ministerial post and moved him into a backbench role, but he remained in Parliament. It was not immediately clear if he planned to resign his seat following the court decision.
Benizri plans to appeal the decision, his lawyer told Army Radio.
Shas, a key member of Olmert’s governing coalition, has threatened to bolt the government over Olmert’s peace talks with the Palestinians. But it seemed unlikely Benizri’s conviction would affect the coalition’s stability.
Senior officials in the Shas Party promised that if convicted, Benizri would resign from the Knesset without waiting for final sentencing in his case.
“I’m not worried,” Benizri said prior to the verdict. “I’m always optimistic. Even in the bad I see the good.” Benizri’s lawyer said, “As long as the legal proceeding has not ended, there is no reason for Benizri to resign.” Knesset Members, Ran Cohen of Meretz-Yahad party, and Yuval Shteinitz of Likud party, said that Benizri must step down as MK following his conviction on bribery and fraud charges.
“It is inconceivable that an MK will participate in Knesset votes and other crucial activities after he was convicted of such grave offenses,” said Cohen.
If the court rules that the conviction is one of “moral turpitude,” as is likely, Benizri will find himself automatically suspended from the Knesset, according to a law legislated only last year.
— With input from agencies
