Misplaced Pages

#370629

106-401: Unlike similar religiously-oriented parties like Shas , Mafdal and Noam , UTJ is non-Zionist . Unlike some other Haredim, the party is notable for its usage of technology and electronic communication. Before the establishment of Degel HaTorah and the formation of United Torah Judaism, the two factions were united under one united Agudat Yisrael party, but the late mentor and supreme guide of

212-623: A Jewish and democratic state living in peace in the land of our ancestors." His father later became a member of the Knesset for Herut . Olmert's childhood included membership in the Beitar Youth Organization and dealing with the fact that his parents were often blacklisted and alienated due to their affiliation with the Jewish militia group the Irgun . They were also part of Herut, the opposition to

318-512: A prisoner exchange deal was agreed upon in 2011 under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , Olmert's successor, Palestinian officials demanded that Netanyahu live up to Olmert's promise and release Fatah prisoners. On 6 September 2007, Israel launched Operation Orchard , an airstrike against a suspected nuclear reactor in Syria , allegedly being built with North Korean and Iranian assistance. The strike

424-621: A "last minute" warning to Gaza in direct appeal to Gaza's people via the Arabic language satellite channel al-Arabiya , to pressure their leaders to stop the rocket barrages. "I am telling them now, it may be the last minute, I'm telling them stop it. We are stronger", he said. The attacks did not stop and Israel launched its military operation, codenamed Operation Cast Lead , on the morning of 27 December, when more than 50 fighter jets and attack helicopters began to bomb strategic targets. Air and naval strikes continued for days, when on 3 January 2009

530-459: A 15-year period. Olmert resisted calls to resign, and stated: "I never took bribes, I never took a penny for myself. I was elected by you, citizens of Israel, to be the Prime Minister and I don't intend to shirk this responsibility. If Attorney General Meni Mazuz , decides to file an indictment, I will resign from my position, even though the law does not oblige me to do so." On 2 May, head of

636-615: A Hamas-built smuggling tunnel. The ceasefire expired in December 2008 and negotiations stalled between the two parties to renew the ceasefire. On 24 December, the Negev was hit by more than 60 mortar shells and Katyusha and Qassam rockets , and the IDF was given a green light to operate. Hamas claimed to have fired a total of 87 rockets and mortar rounds that day at Israel, code-naming the firing "Operation Oil Stain". On 25 December 2008, Olmert delivered

742-732: A cabinet member, he served as mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003. After serving as prime minister, he was sentenced to serve a prison term over convictions for accepting bribes and for obstruction of justice during his terms as mayor of Jerusalem and as trade minister. Ehud Olmert was born near Binyamina in the British Mandate of Palestine . According to Olmert, his parents, Bella (Wagman) and Mordechai Olmert , escaped "persecution in Ukraine and Russia , and found sanctuary in Harbin , China. They immigrated to Israel to fulfill their dream of building

848-852: A consolidation of Israeli settlement interests, especially regarding yeshivas and Jewish holy sites in the West Bank. It further believes in a "United Jerusalem" and supports the Greater Jerusalem plan. In 2010, Shas joined the World Zionist Organization , having made significant changes to its charter. One of Shas's demands is a compensation package for Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews who were forced to flee their home countries and leave their property behind. Shas opposes any form of public expression of homosexuality, including Gay Pride parades, especially in Jerusalem . Shas MK Nissim Ze'ev accused

954-518: A credible and healthy political process must be carefully and painfully developed. A political process that does not aim to change the other or to overcome differences, but that allows each side to live peacefully in spite of their differences." Olmert ran unsuccessfully in the September 1999 Likud leadership election . Olmert was elected as a member of the sixteenth Knesset in January 2003. He served as

1060-548: A criminal investigation was initiated against Olmert on suspicion that during his tenure as finance minister , he tried to steer the tender for the sale of Bank Leumi in order to help Slovak -born Australian real estate baron Frank Lowy , a close personal associate. Israeli Finance Ministry Accountant General Dr. Yaron Zelekha was as a key witness, according to the State Comptroller 's office. The state comptroller testified against Olmert. Israeli Police who investigated

1166-529: A journalist for the IDF magazine BaMahane . During the Yom Kippur War , he joined the headquarters of Ariel Sharon as a military correspondent. Already a member of the Knesset , he decided to go through an officer's course in 1980 at the age of 35. Olmert is married to Aliza , an author, playwright and artist. The couple has four biological children and an adopted daughter. The oldest daughter, Michal, holds

SECTION 10

#1732855666371

1272-434: A list of nuclear powers, saying: "Iran, openly, explicitly and publicly, threatens to wipe Israel off the map. Can you say that this is the same level, when they are aspiring to have nuclear weapons, as America, France, Israel and Russia?" He immediately attempted to backtrack, insisting that Israel's doggedly held position of nuclear weapons ambiguity had not changed. He nonetheless came under harsh criticism from both ends of

1378-467: A loan from Almaliah, but did not say when it was due. In 2004, Olmert conceded that he had taken $ 75,000, and stressed that Almaliah had not asked for repayment of the loan. At Goldberg's insistence, Olmert signed a contract with Almaliah undertaking to repay the loan in January 2009. According to an indictment, Olmert had actually taken another $ 100,000 from Almaliah, which was deposited into his personal bank account. The State Prosecutor's office said that it

1484-766: A march in Tel Aviv protesting alleged Israeli complicity in the Gaza beach blast , which made her the subject of bitter criticism from right-wing personalities. Olmert's father Mordechai, a pioneer of Israel's land settlement and a former member of the Second and Third Knessets, grew up in the Chinese city of Harbin , where he led the local Betar youth movement. Olmert's grandfather J. J. Olmert settled in Harbin after fleeing post- World War I Russia. In 2004, Olmert visited China and paid his respects at

1590-601: A master's in psychology and leads workshops in creative thinking . Another daughter Dana is a lecturer in literature at the Tel Aviv University , and the editor of a literature series. She is a lesbian and lives with her partner in Tel Aviv . Her parents are accepting of her sexual orientation and partner. Dana is active in the Jerusalem branch of the Israeli human rights organization Machsom Watch . In June 2006 she attended

1696-450: A matter of individual choice that would ultimately have to apply to every refugee. In his memoirs, Olmert claimed that he and Abbas were very close to an agreement, but Abbas' hesitation, Olmert's legal troubles, and the Gaza War caused the talks to end. President Bush wrote in his memoirs that the talks broke down when Olmert announced that he would resign from office, and Abbas then broke off

1802-512: A moderate policy on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict , after Yosef had declared that lives were more important than territories, but it has since moved to the right and opposes any freeze in Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank . In addition, it was skeptical towards the U.S. Obama Administration 's intentions regarding the Israeli–Palestinian peace process and has begun to support

1908-528: A parliamentary inquest in July 2007, Olmert flatly denied these accusations. In October 2007, Attorney General Mazuz ordered a police investigation into allegations that Olmert, when he held the positions of trade minister, communications minister and finance minister, had improperly appointed associates from the Likud party to posts on government bodies. Police completed their investigation in 2009, and concluded that there

2014-468: A partner in a firm providing mini-bars for hotels. It was alleged that Olmert sometimes used official letterheads. The charge sheet said that Olmert was aware he was in an "acute conflict of interest". On 26 November 2008, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz informed Olmert that he would be indicted in the so-called "Rishon Tours" affair, pending a hearing before Mazuz. The scheme allegedly worked as follows: Olmert would speak abroad on behalf of groups such as

2120-407: A party convention, its first in 15 years, in December 2005. In early February 2006, Agudat Israel and Degel HaTorah agreed to run together as United Torah Judaism, despite the fact that the contentious "sixth seat" issue remained undecided. The two groups finally compromised by proposing dividing the sixth seat between two representatives on a rotating schedule (as was done in the last Knesset between

2226-676: A plague." Saeb Erekat of the PLO said Yosef's remarks were tantamount to a call for "genocide against Palestinians". Yosef later apologized and wrote to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak: "I support your efforts and praise all the leaders and the peoples — Egyptians, Jordanians and Palestinians — who are partners and wish the success of this important process of achieving peace in our region, and preventing bloodshed. May God grant you longevity and may you succeed in your efforts for peace and may there be peace in our region." Previously, Yosef had called Arabs "vipers" and called for Israel to "annihilate" them. "It

SECTION 20

#1732855666371

2332-584: A resolution on 8 January 2009 calling for an immediate ceasefire to the hostilities in the Gaza Strip. It passed 14–0–1, with one abstention from the United States. Olmert told reporters, "[U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ] was left shamed. A resolution that she prepared and arranged, and in the end she did not vote in favor. In the night between Thursday and Friday, when the Secretary of State wanted to lead

2438-500: A revival of authentic, non-Europeanized Jewish culture . However, it still represents the Sephardi and Mizrahi Haredi Jewish sectors in the Knesset . Shas has at times been able to exert disproportionate influence by gaining control of the balance of power in the Knesset within the context of the traditionally narrow margin between Israel's large parties. Like its Labor Zionist counterparts (i. e., Labor and Meretz ) that gain votes from

2544-424: A senior Likud minister, speaking on anonymity, told Al-Monitor that Deri was mediating the political coalition talks between Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz . It was also reported that Deri "might even be open to a new alliance with Blue and White – now that its anti-clerical component, Yair Lapid, quit the party and went his own way" and would only commit to remaining with Netanyahu's coalition until

2650-479: A straw party with the symbols of Otzma Yehudit , which was running on a joint list with Yachad during the election. During the 2015 election, Shas won 7 seats. In 2017, opinion polling showed that Shas was falling under the election threshold of 3.25%. In response, Shas leaders said that there was a coup attempt in the party. In the same year, a tape was leaked of the party's former spiritual leader, criticizing Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar. On 17 April 2020,

2756-536: Is a Haredi religious political party in Israel. Founded in 1984 under the leadership of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef , a former Israeli Sephardi chief rabbi , who remained its spiritual leader until his death in October 2013, it primarily represents the interests of Sephardic and Mizrahi Haredi Jews. Shas is the third-largest party in the Knesset in 2024. Since 1984 it has been part of most governing coalitions, whether

2862-572: Is forbidden to be merciful to them. You must send missiles to them and annihilate them. They are evil and damnable." A spokesman later clarified that his comments were only aimed at murderers and terrorists and not the entire Arab world. In 2020, the party was fined ₪ 7,500 by the Central Elections Committee for giving out prayer cards at polling stations during the 2020 Knesset elections , which were claimed to cure " Corona and every illness and pestilence". Women activists protested

2968-725: Is known as the "cash envelopes" affair, pending a hearing before the attorney general. In 2010, the National Fraud Investigations Unit accused Olmert of involvement in the " Holyland Affair ", where officials took bribes in exchange for promoting real estate projects, especially the Holyland real estate development project in southwest Jerusalem, which was allowed to grow 1,200% beyond the limit authorized. As Mayor of Jerusalem, Olmert allegedly took thousands of shekels in bribe money from businessmen, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders. On 30 August 2009, an indictment against Olmert

3074-682: Is not alive for me to be able to publicly recognize his wisdom and my mistake. He was right and I was wrong. Thank God we pulled out of the Sinai. When Sharon announced he was leaving Likud to form a new party, Kadima , Olmert was one of the first to join him. On 4 January 2006, as the designated Acting Prime Minister , Olmert became Acting Prime Minister as a result of the serious stroke suffered by then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. This occurred after consultations took place between Cabinet Secretary Yisrael Maimon and Attorney General Menachem Mazuz , who declared Sharon "temporarily incapable to carry out

3180-458: Is nothing in Jewish law that says you can't have a woman as a Knesset member. But our rabbis decide what they decide on every subject and the same goes for this." When a group of ultra-Orthodox women created their own party, U'Bizchutan , Isaac Bezalel, the Shas spokesman, said: "The Haredi public is not yet open to women serving in the Knesset." Eleven men serve as members of the Knesset for Shas in

3286-420: The 1992 election , in which it won four Knesset seats. In the 1999 elections , UTJ won five Knesset seats. UTJ wants to maintain a status quo relationship in regard to religion-and-state issues. The party has no uniform opinion on the issue of increasing settlements in the West Bank. UTJ has always been a coalition of two individual parties, choosing to take advantage of Israeli election law in order to maximize

United Torah Judaism - Misplaced Pages Continue

3392-454: The 1999 elections , its strongest showing since its formation. Although 26 seats were projected for the following election had it run in 2001, Shas was reduced to 11 seats in the 2003 election because the two-ballot system was amended. In the 2006 elections , it gained one more seat, after running what the BBC called "an aggressive campaign that targeted the neo-conservative economic policies of

3498-453: The 2009 elections , in which Shas won eleven seats, it joined Benjamin Netanyahu 's coalition government and held four cabinet posts. Eli Yishai , who led the party at that time, was one of four Deputy Prime Ministers and Minister of Internal Affairs . On 4 December 2011, Shas launched its United States affiliate, American Friends of Shas, based in Brooklyn, New York. Shas won 11 seats in

3604-547: The 2013 elections , but chose to form part of the Labor opposition to Netanyahu's new government. Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid party and Naftali Bennett of The Jewish Home , who had won more seats and joined the coalition, both favored conscription of the previously exempt Haredi men into Israel's national service and a reduction in state financial support for Haredi families, policies Shas opposes. In December 2014, Eli Yishai left

3710-609: The Belz and Vizhnitz communities for the fifth seat). This solution seemed to mollify the respective groups, and paved the way for the re-establishment of a joint list for the 2006 elections, although the Belz court was reportedly irked that once again, it was being asked to sacrifice part of its representation. UTJ MKs told reporters that any decision to join future government coalitions will be dependent on achieving two "central posts" to be split between Agudah and Degel. Similarly, in order to avoid

3816-541: The Kadima party leadership election in September and would resign from office once his party elects a new leader. In his resignation speech, he said he was "proud to be a citizen of a country in which a Prime Minister can be investigated like any other citizen", but also stated he "was forced to defend [himself] from ceaseless attacks by the self-appointed soldiers of justice, who sought to oust [him] from [his] position". The move

3922-498: The March 2006 elections . A number of issues were worked out, such as Degel HaTorah's insistence on the joint list being equally divided between the two parties. (In the past, Agudat Israel has received slightly more votes than Degel HaTorah.) Degel HaTorah has re-organized itself. It has a fully equipped modern party office on Hamabit Street 10 in Jerusalem's Geula neighborhood. It conducted

4028-603: The West Bank , the construction of a tunnel connecting the West Bank and the Gaza Strip , and a demilitarized Palestinian state with an American-led international security force stationed on the Palestinian–Jordanian border. Both sides disagreed over how much land would be exchanged in the swaps, with Olmert demanding at least 6.3–6.8% of the West Bank and Abbas insisting a swap would not exceed 1.9%. In his memoirs, Olmert wrote that he agreed Israel would generously compensate

4134-441: The kibbutz movement, Shas gains votes and supports from moshavim that are inhabited by Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews, either Orthodox or non-Orthodox. Also, since it became a member of the World Zionist Organization , it gains votes from Orthodox settlers in the West Bank. In the elections to the eleventh Knesset in 1984, Shas won four seats. Following Aryeh Deri 's conviction on corruption charges in 1999, Shas gained 17 seats in

4240-594: The planned Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip . Olmert, who had originally opposed withdrawing from land captured in the Six-Day War , and who had voted against the Camp David Peace Accords in 1978, was a vocal supporter of the Gaza pullout. After his appointment, Olmert said: I voted against Menachem Begin , I told him it was a historic mistake, how dangerous it would be, and so on and so on. Now I am sorry he

4346-540: The Finance, Education and Defense Budget Committees. He served as minister without portfolio , responsible for minority affairs between 1988 and 1990, and as minister of health from 1990 until 1992. Following Likud's defeat in the 1992 election, instead of remaining a Knesset member in the opposition, he successfully ran for mayor of Jerusalem in November 1993. Between 1993 and 2003, Olmert served two terms as mayor of Jerusalem ,

United Torah Judaism - Misplaced Pages Continue

4452-549: The Hebrew for "miserable failure". On 9 December 2006, Olmert stated that he could not rule out the possibility of a military attack against Iran , and called for the international community to step up action against that country. He called Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 's repeated threats to destroy Israel "absolutely criminal", and said that he expected "more dramatic steps to be taken". In an interview with German TV network Sat.1 on 11 December 2006, Olmert included Israel in

4558-427: The IDF began a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. The fighting lasted 22 days until a ceasefire came into effect. Israel subsequently withdrew from Gaza. On 1 February 2009, Olmert stated: We've said that if there is rocket fire against the south of the country, there will be a severe and disproportionate Israeli response to the fire on the citizens of Israel and its security forces. The UN Security Council passed

4664-692: The Israeli political spectrum due to the perceived threat to Israel's policy of ambiguity regarding its nuclear status . On 2 May 2007, the Winograd Commission accused Olmert of failing to properly manage the 2006 Lebanese War, which prompted a mass rally of over 100,000 people calling for his resignation. Olmert welcomed the Arab League 's 2007 re-endorsement of the Arab Peace Initiative . Olmert wrote in The Guardian newspaper that Israel

4770-562: The National Fraud Investigations Unit Brigadier-General Shlomi Ayalon and two investigators questioned Olmert for 90 minutes in his Jerusalem residence. On 23 May, National Fraud Investigations Unit officers interrogated Olmert for an hour in his Jerusalem residence. On 27 May, Talansky testified in court that over the last 15 years he gave Olmert more than $ 150,000 in cash in envelopes to fund political campaigns, and hinted that Olmert also used

4876-456: The Palestinians. Olmert was the third Israeli prime minister to have been invited to speak at a joint session of Congress. Following the 2006 Lebanon War , Olmert's popularity ratings fell and, on 15 September 2006, former chief of staff Moshe Ya'alon publicly stated that Olmert should resign. In May 2007, Olmert's approval rating fell to 3%, and he became the subject of a Google Bomb for

4982-463: The Secretary of State and told her not to vote in favor." When asked about the comments, a White House spokesman said that Olmert's version of events was "inaccurate". The war ended on 18 January 2009. A day before, Israeli officials announced a unilateral ceasefire , without an agreement with Hamas. In a press conference, Olmert declared the ceasefire effective that night, at 00:00 GMT. On 30 July 2008, Olmert announced that he would not contest

5088-690: The Sepharadim, Guardians of the Torah". Shas was founded in 1984, prior to the elections to the eleventh Knesset in the same year, in protest against the small representation of Sephardim in the largely Ashkenazi Agudat Yisrael , through the merger of regional lists which were compiled in 1983. It was originally known as the Worldwide Sephardic Association of Torah Keepers ( Hebrew : הִתְאַחֲדוּת הַסְּפָרַדִּים הָעוֹלָמִית שׁוֹמְרֵי תּוֹרָה , Hitahdut HaSfaradim HaOlamit Shomrei Torah ). The party

5194-482: The Sephardic Jews, and urged his own Ashkenazi followers at that time, to vote for the new Shas party, which they did in record numbers. Later, Shas broke with Rabbi Shach, as it adopted its own independent political stance under Rabbi Ovadia Yosef . Yet, Shas generally goes in the same direction, as it has similar values, needs and interests within the state. Haaretz cited that some women activists have protested

5300-407: The Shas party, which he had led for more than a decade. He said he would lead a new religious party in the election scheduled for March 2015. His departure from Shas and Aryeh Deri did not come as a surprise. The party that he formed, Yachad , failed to pass the election threshold. In the 2015 elections, Shas was accused of tampering with the ballots of Yachad . They were also accused of creating

5406-507: The Welfare Ministry was expected to be given to United Torah Judaism if it would join the government. The post was later given to Labor's Isaac Herzog . Olmert took over as acting prime minister of Israel after Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke. On 24 May 2006, Olmert was invited to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress . He stated that his government would proceed with the disengagement plan if it could not come to agreement with

SECTION 50

#1732855666371

5512-589: The Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, a support group for the Israel Defense Forces or a charity for mentally disabled Israeli children. Rishon Tours then billed each group for the same trip as if they alone were paying, and placed the money in a special bank account allegedly for Olmert's personal use. Prosecutors charged that Olmert had gained $ 92,164. On 1 March 2009, Attorney General Mazuz announced that he would file an indictment against him in what

5618-400: The case eventually concluded that the evidence that was collected was insufficient for indictment, and no recommendations were made to press charges. In October 2007, he was questioned for five hours by three officers from the National Fraud Investigations Unit in his Jerusalem residence. State Prosecutor Moshe Lador closed the case in December 2008 due to lack of evidence. In April 2007, it

5724-435: The declaration would not take effect. Therefore, the official declaration took effect on 14 April, formally ending Sharon's term as prime minister and making Olmert the country's new Interim Prime Minister in office (he would not become the official prime minister until he formed a government). On 4 May 2006, Olmert presented his new government to the Knesset. Olmert became prime minister and minister for welfare . Control over

5830-782: The development of mass transportation options for the city. While mayor of Jerusalem, Olmert was an invited speaker at an international conflict resolution conference held in Derry , Northern Ireland. In his address, he spoke of how "Political leaders can help change the psychological climate which affects the quality of relationships among people." His speech concluded with reflections on the importance of political process in overcoming differences: "How are fears born? They are born because of differences in tradition and history; they are born because of differences in emotional, political and national circumstances. Because of such differences, people fear they cannot live together. If we are to overcome such fear,

5936-411: The dictates of the law. Even after an official resignation, he remained in power until a new prime minister was sworn in, in order to prevent a government void. Livni tried unsuccessfully to form a new coalition government. After Livni announced she could not form the new government, new parliamentary elections were set for 10 February 2009 , and Olmert remained in power until after the elections, just as

6042-452: The duties of his office", while only officially in office. Then, Olmert and the cabinet reaffirmed in an announcement that the 28 March elections would be held as scheduled. During the days following the stroke, Olmert met with Shimon Peres and other Sharon supporters to try to convince them to stay with Kadima, rather than return to Likud or, in Peres' case, Labor . On 16 January 2006, Olmert

6148-698: The end of Israel in case a two-state solution is not eventually found for the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. "If the day comes when the two-state solution collapses, and we face a South African-style struggle for equal voting rights (also for the Palestinians in the territories), then, as soon as that happens, the State of Israel is finished", Olmert said on the last day of the Annapolis Conference . "The Jewish organizations, which were our power base in America, will be

6254-409: The fact that UTJ, along with other Haredi parties, refuses to run female candidates for office. UTJ responded that they have the right to follow the Jewish laws of modesty, which separates roles of men and women, and maintain that they do not deny women the right to vote for any other Knesset parties of their choice. They add that Haredi women will not vote for them if they elect women. In January 2004,

6360-403: The first member of Likud or its precursors to hold the position. During his term in office, he devoted himself to the initiation and advancement of major projects in the city, the development and improvement of the education system, and the development of road infrastructure. He also spearheaded the development of the light rail system in Jerusalem, and the investment of millions of shekels in

6466-436: The first to come out against us", Olmert said, "because they will say they cannot support a state that does not support democracy and equal voting rights for all its residents". During the talks, Olmert agreed that Israel would share Jerusalem as the joint capital of Israel and a Palestinian state and hand over its holy sites to a multinational committee, land swaps that would allow Israel to keep its major settlement blocs in

SECTION 60

#1732855666371

6572-461: The head of the election campaign for Likud in the elections, and subsequently was the chief negotiator of the coalition agreement. Following the elections he was appointed as Designated Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor . From 2003 to 2004, he also served as Minister of Communications . On 7 August 2005, Olmert was appointed acting finance minister , replacing Benjamin Netanyahu , who had resigned in protest against

6678-463: The historic right of the people of Israel to the entire Land of Israel ." In a number of interviews, he also introduced his Realignment plan , which would see Israel unilaterally withdraw from most of the West Bank and redraw its borders to incorporate major settlement blocs into Israel. The plan was shelved following the 2006 Lebanon War. Following the March 2006 election, Kadima won 29 seats, making it

6784-444: The homosexual community of "carrying out the self-destruction of Israeli society and the Jewish people", calling homosexuals "a plague as toxic as bird flu ". However, the party condemns any form of violence against gay people. Several Shas MKs, including Aryeh Deri , Rafael Pinhasi , Yair Levy , Ofer Hugi and Yair Peretz , have been convicted of criminal offenses that include fraud and forgery. In addition, MK Shlomo Benizri

6890-415: The lack of female representation in Shas by organizing a " No Female Candidate, No Female Vote " campaign. The women said they would not vote for a party that does not include women candidates on its slate and sent an open letter to the Knesset representatives of ultra-Orthodox parties, which was also circulated on social media. Rabbi Mordechai Blau, a senior party member, threatened that women participating in

6996-524: The largest party. On 6 April, Olmert was officially asked by President Moshe Katsav to form a government. Olmert had an initial period of 28 days to form a governing coalition , with a possible two-week extension. On 11 April, the Israeli Cabinet deemed that Sharon was incapacitated. The 100-day replacement deadline was extended due to the Jewish festival of Passover , and a provision was made that, should Sharon's condition improve between 11 and 14 April,

7102-420: The law dictates. Beginning in the mid-1980s, Olmert was subjected to a string of corruption allegations that resulted in multiple police investigations. According to Israeli journalist Yossi Melman , the repeated investigations led some to believe that Olmert was corrupt but a master at covering his tracks, while others believed that the authorities were simply obsessed with harassing him. On 7 March 2006, it

7208-611: The long-ruling Mapai party. However, by the 1970s, this was proving less detrimental to one's career than during the 1950s. Olmert graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with degrees in psychology , philosophy and law. He opened a successful law partnership in Jerusalem . Olmert served with the Israel Defense Forces in the Golani Brigade . While in service he was injured and temporarily released. He underwent many treatments, and later completed his military duties as

7314-613: The money for fine hotels, cigars, pens and watches. On 6 September 2008, the Israel Police recommended that criminal charges should be brought against Olmert. In their indictment, prosecutors claimed that Olmert had received some $ 600,000 from Talansky in either cash or bank transfers, and that $ 350,000 of this was held in a "secret cache" managed by Olmert's close associate Uri Messer. The prosecution also claimed that Olmert used his official capacity as minister of trade and industry to facilitate introductions with hotel managers for Talansky,

7420-492: The movement or bucking the party leadership would find their children "banned from Haredi schools" and their employers "boycotted by the community". Shas announced that it would create a women's council within the movement, a step that was welcomed by the campaigners. At the same time, they said: "We will move forward and call on the Haredi factions to enable women to serve as MKs in the Knesset." Eli Yishai said on Israel Radio: "There

7526-587: The next election. Defunct Defunct The stated purpose of the party is to "return the crown to the former glory", meaning to protect the religious and cultural heritage of Sephardic Jewry and rectify what it sees as the "continued economic and social discrimination against the Sephardic population of Israel". Focusing on the needs of Sephardic Orthodox Israelis, Shas established its own government-funded religious education system called MaAyan HaHinuch HaTorani, which became popular in poor Sephardic towns, increasing

7632-544: The non-Hasidic group, Rabbi Elazar Shach , broke away from the Hasidic wing when he concluded that the party was not representing all Ashkenazi Haredim. At that point, he split from them, and created the Degel HaTorah party for the " Lithuanian " Haredi Jews (also known as " Mitnagdim " by some). He chose the name Degel HaTorah, meaning "Flag of The Torah", to be a contrast to the well-known flag of Israel and its connection with

7738-779: The number of seats it can gain in the Knesset (and thus maximize its influence): The Agudat Yisrael faction takes its directions from the Hasidic rebbes of Ger (Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter ), Vizhnitz (Rabbi Yisroel Hager ), and Belz (Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach ). Policy decisions are also weighed and decided by a Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah ("Council of Torah Sages"), a council of communal rabbis, made up of mostly senior and elderly rebbes . Degel HaTorah's pre-eminent sages are Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky and Rabbi Gershon Edelstein , of Bnei Brak . Policy decisions are also weighed and decided by their own "Moetzes" (Council) of experienced communal rabbis, made up of mostly senior and elderly rosh yeshivas . Shas Shas ( Hebrew : ש״ס )

7844-725: The party split back into its two factions following a disagreement over how to join Ariel Sharon 's coalition, which had been negotiated by Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv . Rabbi Eliashiv wanted the five MKs to have a three-month "waiting period" before accepting jobs in the government. Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter , the Gerrer rebbe, however, thought that all Agudat members should accept positions immediately. The Agudat MKs argued that they should be entitled to follow their own rabbis' ruling, while their Degel HaTorah counterparts accused them of disrespecting Rabbi Eliashiv. The Agudat faction proceeded to follow

7950-532: The party's popular support. Shas advocates for the increased influence of Halakha , the Jewish religious law, in Israeli society and actively engages in the Baal teshuva movement , encouraging non- Orthodox Israelis of Sephardic and Mizrahi-Jewish heritage to adopt an Orthodox Jewish lifestyle. Shas is a Haredi religious party, but it has participated in left-wing governments and is often willing to compromise on both religious and economic issues. At first, Shas followed

8056-402: The platform of a return to religion and as a counter to an establishment dominated by Ashkenazi Jews of European extraction. Not all Shas voters are ultra-Orthodox Jews . Many of its voters are Modern Orthodox and traditional Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews, due to its alignment with the promotion of an "authentic Middle Eastern" Israeli culture , which fits with traditional Zionist beliefs of

8162-433: The previous government", and joined Ehud Olmert 's coalition government , alongside Kadima , Labor , Gil and, between October 2006 and January 2008, Yisrael Beiteinu . In the government, Shas party leader Yishai was Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor and Deputy Prime Minister , while Ariel Atias was Minister of Communications and Meshulam Nahari and Yitzhak Cohen were Ministers without Portfolio . Following

8268-463: The problems that led to the 2004 split, disagreements about joining a coalition will not be determined by a majority vote of MKs, but rather taken to the party's rabbinic leaders. Various media interviews with the party's Knesset members confirmed that it would strongly consider joining a coalition with the Ehud Olmert -led Kadima party, should it be offered to them after the elections. In March 2006,

8374-474: The prosecution began a cross-examination on the various charges. In January 2012, Olmert was indicted for taking bribes over the Holyland affair. The indictment was filed in the Tel Aviv District Court. After Olmert began accusing his secretary, Shula Zaken, of committing the crimes he was charged with, Zaken began negotiating a plea bargain with prosecutors. In late March 2014, prosecutors signed

8480-400: The rabbinical leaders of UTJ, including Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv , issued public declarations urging the Haredi public to vote for the party's list. In the election, the party increased its mandate by one, to six seats. Defunct Defunct United Torah Judaism ( Yahadut HaTorah – UTJ) is a coalition of two Haredi parties, Agudat Israel and Degel HaTorah, which submitted a joint list in

8586-504: The rebbe of Ger's instructions, with MK Yaakov Litzman accepting the position as chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee. This infuriated Degel HaTorah and its leaders, and in response, they left the party, dissolving a twelve-year-old partnership. In December 2005, there was a meeting between representatives of the two factions, presumably to smooth over the ill-feelings of the previous year and to attempt to re-group before

8692-399: The remaining refugees. Olmert later stated that U.S. President George W. Bush offered to accept another 100,000 refugees as American citizens if a peace agreement was signed. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wrote in her memoirs that the Palestinians demanded they be allowed to negotiate additional "returns" to Israel following the peace deal, insisting that the right of return was

8798-590: The resumption of peace talks with Syria was a national obligation that must be tried. However, Syria broke off the talks several months later in response to the Gaza War . Rocket and mortar attacks by Palestinian terrorists from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Israel occurred frequently throughout the spring and summer of 2008, until a ceasefire was agreed between Hamas and Israel in June. Rocket attacks increased sharply in November after an Israeli raid on

8904-469: The right time". Opposition leaders called for the resignation to be followed by general elections. The Likud party leader, Benjamin Netanyahu , called for snap elections : "It doesn't matter who heads Kadima. They are all partners in this government's total failure. National responsibility requires a return to the people and new elections." After Tzipi Livni won the leadership election, Olmert officially resigned but remained prime minister, according to

9010-572: The ruling party was Labor , Kadima or Likud . The party was originally called Shom'rei Torah ("Guardians of the Torah "), with the acronym ש״ת, pronounced "Shat" or "Shas". However, Israeli election law requires a party wishing to use letters for their acronym that already appear in the acronym of an existing party to first obtain permission from that party, and the Israeli Labor Party , whose letters are אמת, refused to grant Shas permission to use

9116-491: The secular-dominated State of Israel (an "anti-Torah" entity, in his opinion). Rabbi Shach was known as an outspoken critic of the secular Israeli way of life. The UTJ party also had considerable influence on the Israeli Sephardi Jews ' Shas party. In fact, the Shas party was founded by Rabbi Shach at an earlier juncture when he was previously also frustrated with the policies of the Hasidic rebbes; so, he turned to

9222-515: The strike, Bush claimed to have suggested to Olmert to hide the strike for a while and then make it public as a way to isolate the Syrian government, but Olmert asked for total secrecy, wanting to avoid anything that could force Syria to retaliate. However, Israeli columnist Caroline Glick wrote that Israel had bowed to US demands in concealing the airstrike. In May 2008, Israel opened Turkish-brokered indirect peace talks with Syria . Olmert stated that

9328-406: The talks and refused to finalize an agreement on the grounds that he did not want to sign a peace deal with a prime minister on his way out of office. During at least two meetings, Olmert made a secret promise to Abbas: Once a prisoner exchange deal for captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was finalized with Hamas , Israel would bolster Abbas' government by releasing Fatah prisoners. After

9434-477: The talks must be a discussion, not an ultimatum." On 4 November 2007, he declared Israel's intention to negotiate with the Palestinians about all issues, stating, " Annapolis will be the jumping-off point for continued serious and in-depth negotiations, which will not avoid any issue or ignore any division that has clouded our relations with the Palestinian people for many years." On 29 November 2007, he warned of

9540-632: The tomb of his grandfather in Harbin. Olmert said that his father had never forgotten his Chinese hometown after moving to what was then the British Mandate of Palestine, in 1933, at the age of 22. "When he died at the age of 88, he spoke his last words in Mandarin Chinese ", he recalled. In October 2007, Olmert was diagnosed with prostate cancer . In 1966, during the Gahal party convention (a predecessor to today's Likud ), party leader Menachem Begin

9646-437: The twenty-fifth Knesset: Ehud Olmert Ehud Olmert ( / ˈ oʊ l m ər t , - m ɛər t / ; Hebrew : אֶהוּד אוֹלְמֶרְט , IPA: [eˈhud ˈolmeʁt] ; born 30 September 1945) is an Israeli politician and lawyer. He served as the 12th prime minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009 and before that as a cabinet minister from 1988 to 1992 and from 2003 to 2006. Between his first and second stints as

9752-527: The vote on a ceasefire at the Security Council, we did not want her to vote in favor. I said 'get me President Bush on the phone'. They said he was in the middle of giving a speech in Philadelphia . I said I didn't care. 'I need to talk to him now'. He got off the podium and spoke to me. I told him the United States could not vote in favor. It cannot vote in favor of such a resolution. He immediately called

9858-520: The ת. Instead, it was named ש״ס, Shas, an acronym for Shomrei S'farad , meaning " Sephardic Guardians". The name is also a reference to the six orders ( Shisha S'darim ) of the Mishnah and the Talmud , both of which are often referred to by the same acronym, "Shas". The party's legal name is "Hit'akhdut ha-S'pharadim ha-Olamit Shom'rei Torah" (התאחדות הספרדים העולמית שומרי תורה), meaning "International Union of

9964-497: Was a basis to indict Olmert and others for fraud and breach of trust. In July 2008, Haaretz reported that in 1992, Olmert took a loan from U.S. businessman Joe Almaliah but never repaid it and concealed the size of the loan from the State Comptroller. In March 2003, State Comptroller Eliezer Goldberg asked Olmert to submit the wealth-declaration statement required of all cabinet ministers. Olmert disclosed that he had taken

10070-485: Was challenged by the young Olmert, who called for his resignation. Begin announced that he would retire from party leadership, but soon reversed his decision when the crowd emotionally pleaded with him to stay. Olmert was first elected to the Knesset in 1973 at the age of 28, and was re-elected seven consecutive times. Between 1981 and 1989, he served as a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and served on

10176-455: Was convicted of bribery, conspiring to commit a crime and obstruction of justice on 1 April 2008. Benizri resigned was replaced by Mazor Bahaina , who was number thirteen on the Shas list. In 1999, Deri was sentenced to prison time on corruption charges. In 2010, Ovadia Yosef cursed the Palestinians as "evil, bitter enemies of Israel" and said that, " Abu Mazen and all these evil people should perish from this world. God should strike them with

10282-568: Was disclosed that an inquiry was being carried out on the 1999 sale and lease-back of a Jerusalem property purchased by Olmert in 2004, which allegedly was done on financial terms very favorable to Olmert, in what would amount to an illegal campaign contribution and/or bribe. Olmert was alleged to have paid $ 325,000 below market value. A criminal investigation regarding the matter was formally launched on 24 September 2007. The investigation closed in August 2009 due to lack of evidence. On 16 January 2007,

10388-404: Was elected chairman of Kadima, and Kadima's candidate for prime minister in the upcoming election. In his first major policy address on 24 January 2006 after becoming caretaker prime minister, Olmert stated that he backed the creation of a Palestinian state, and that Israel would have to relinquish parts of the West Bank to maintain its Jewish majority. At the same time, he said, "We firmly stand by

10494-401: Was formed under the leadership of former Israeli Chief Sephardi Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who established a four-member (including himself) Council of Torah Sages and remained the party's spiritual leader until his death. In founding the party, Yosef received strategic help and guidance from Rabbi Elazar Shach , leader of Israel's non- Hasidic Haredi Ashkenazi Jews. Yosef founded the party in 1984 on

10600-478: Was further alleged that while Olmert was Minister of Trade, Industry and Labor, he may have been guilty of criminal behavior by taking an active part in an investment center. Prosecutors said that Olmert placed himself in a conflict of interest by personally dealing with issues involving business figures represented by his friend and former business partner, lawyer Uri Messer. Olmert was alleged to have changed some decisions made by his ministry in their favor. During

10706-470: Was interpreted as signaling the end of Olmert's political career. Many politicians across the political spectrum praised Olmert's decision to resign. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said "the personal decision was not simple, but it was a correct one. Kadima must continue to act in a way that will preserve its unity and ability to lead." Defense minister and Labor party leader Ehud Barak called Olmert's announcement "a proper and responsible decision made at

10812-529: Was not aware of Olmert's repayment of either loan. In May 2008, Olmert was the subject of another police investigation on allegations of bribery. Olmert said that he took campaign contributions from Jewish-American businessman Morris Talansky when he was running for mayor of Jerusalem, leadership of the Likud and candidacy in the Likud list for the Knesset. It was alleged that Olmert unlawfully received millions of shekels in illegal campaign funding from Talansky over

10918-522: Was preceded by years of covert operations by Israeli special forces and the Mossad . Details of the strike were censored in Israel, and the attack was not confirmed to have taken place until 2 October. Following the attack, Olmert's approval rating rose to 35%. President Bush wrote in his memoirs that Olmert had first asked him to bomb the facility, but ordered the attack after Bush refused and told him that he would prefer diplomatic action and sanctions. Following

11024-460: Was ready to make "painful concessions" to achieve peace with the Palestinians. "I take the offer of full normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab world seriously; and I am ready to discuss the Arab peace initiative in an open and sincere manner. Working with our Jordanian and Egyptian partners, and hopefully other Arab states, we must pursue a comprehensive peace with energy and vision.... But

11130-483: Was served at the Jerusalem District Court. The indictment includes the following counts: obtaining by fraud under aggravating circumstances, fraud, breach of trust, falsifying corporate documents, and tax evasion. The indictment refers to three out of the four corruption-related cases standing against him: "Rishon Tours", "Talansky" (also known as the "money envelopes" affair), and the "Investment Center". This

11236-457: Was the first indictment of someone who has ever held the office of Israeli Prime Minister. On 25 September 2009, Olmert's trial opened. The court began hearing testimonies on 22 February 2010, with three discussions per week. The prosecution began arguing its case at the beginning of the trial, and the prosecution phase ended on 30 March 2011. The defense phase began on 31 May, and they began with Olmert testifying in his own defense. On 30 June,

#370629