Israel Matzav

'Free speech,' Israeli style: You can't say Olmert is running from the police to Annapolis

I have told you on several occasions that I believe that the reason that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud K. Olmert is going to the Annapolis conference mugging is to keep the leftist prosecution from indicting him and sending him to jail for his corruption. I noted last night that Olmert has already received his first payoff from the prosecution - they are not announcing today that he will be indicted for his role in trying to fix the tender for the government's shares in Bank Leumi. If Olmert is a good boy in Annapolis, they may not even indict him altogether.

It turns out that I'm not the only one who believes that. Former IDF Chief of Staff Moshe "Boogie" Yaalon told Army radio today that he also believes that Olmert has run to Annapolis to escape the police. Army radio claimed that the police have decided not to indict Olmert but I believe that depends on whether Olmert's performance in Annapolis this week satisfies the branja.

Meanwhile, the monopolist Egged bus company has rejected an ad campaign (illustration photo above) that accuses Olmert of running to Annapolis to flee the criminal prosecutions against him according to another report on Army radio. But you'll all be interested in their reason why:

Egged said the ads were inappropriate as they went against public consensus.

YNet reports that:

Egged spokesman Ron Ratner told Ynet that the campaign was canceled on the grounds that it would "divide the nation".

Anyone still believe there is freedom of speech in Israel?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:24 AM