Israeli Charged With Bribing Sharon

[Judi Lynn]

Israeli Charged With Bribing Sharon
By PETER ENAV
Associated Press Writer


TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)--An Israeli businessman was indicted Wednesday on charges of bribing Ariel Sharon with hundreds of thousands of dollars, further complicating the prime minister's clouded legal situation.

Analysts said the indictment against real-estate developer David Appel increases the chances that Sharon himself may face charges, which would compel him to leave office.

Sharon was not charged Wednesday, but opposition lawmakers urged him to resign.

Appel was indicted in the Tel Aviv Magistrates court for giving Sharon hundreds of thousands of dollars to promote an ambitious real-estate project in Greece when Sharon was foreign minister in 1999 and to help rezone urban land near Tel Aviv before and during Sharon's term as prime minister.

During 1998-1999, the indictment said, Appel ``gave Ariel Sharon a bribe in recognition of activities connected to the fulfillment of his public positions.''
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http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/Intl/AP.V5165.AP-Israel-Sharon.html

[Scurrilous]

1. If I was the Syrians...

...I'd be worried. Sharon has been indicating that Israel may attack Syria in response to this week's Hizbollah attack on the IDF in Lebanon. With this bribery scandal dominating the Israeli news, now is as good as time as any to 'Wag the Dog.'