Bribes Claim Threatens to Bring Down Sharon

[kskiska]

Ariel Sharon has been left one step away from corruption charges and being forced from office by the indictment of a businessman yesterday for allegedly paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Israeli prime minister's family for political favours.

David Appel, a power broker in Mr Sharon's Likud party, is accused of paying about $700,000 (now worth about £385,000) five years ago in return for Mr Sharon applying pressure on the Greek government to approve the construction of a holiday resort and casino on an Aegean island. Mr Sharon was the foreign minister at the time.

"Appel gave Ariel Sharon a bribe in recognition of activities connected to the fulfilment of his public positions," the indictment said.

Prosecutors said they would decide in the coming months whether to charge Mr Sharon. Last night Israeli television reported that the acting attorney general, Edna Arbel, had said she believed there was sufficient evidence to indict the prime minister, but the decision would probably be left to her successor.

more…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1128438,00.html

[Traje]

1. I hope he goes down hard...

... the grotesque, genocidal sack of right-wing blubber.

[burrowowl]

2. Welcome to DU

It will be interesting to see if Sharon goes down. I like the: Israelis desevre an honest leader ....
So does America.

[kskiska]

3. But…but

Our leader has said that Sharon is "a man of peace."

[leesa]

4. And Rush Limbaugh is a good American.

He's a funny guy, that Chimpster!

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Maybe that was 'piece'

as in "I want a piece of the action". This would explain why Bush likes Sharon - both would be men who don't let politics or ethics get in the way of business.

[bubblesby2002]

5. Remember Netanyehu (sp?)

Is everyone in the Likud corrupt?

[madrchsod]

6. norway`s nettavision has

an article about mr sharon and the bugging of norway`s ambassador to israel. the ambassador was meeting with peres , the palistinian prime minister almed qurie , and others. seems sharon let it out that he knew what was said at the meeting..needless to say the norwegians are pissed...

[daleo]

7. I can't see it happening

I don't know much about the inner workings of Israeli politics, but getting thrown out for corruption just seems against the tenor of the times (in the world in general, I mean).

[LiberalFighter]

8. Gee.. I wonder if monkey boy will bring peace to the Mideast now!!!

[loudnclear]

9. Something should bring him down.

You just have to wonder how these crooks and thugs get into office here and abroad.

[markses]

10. Sharon a two-bit thug and strong-arm extortionist?

Impossible!

;-)

Now, let me find out something that I DIDN'T know when I got up this morning....

[Voltaire99]

11. O, Man of Peace, say it ain't so!

And this close to a Nobel, too!