Sharon Cleared in Corruption Case

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, November 10, 2003

Sharon Cleared in Corruption Case

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon violated "accepted norms of behavior" in a land compensation deal, but his actions didn't constitute corruption, the Israeli Justice Ministry said Sunday.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon violated "accepted norms of behavior" in a land compensation deal, but his actions didn't constitute corruption, the Israeli Justice Ministry said Sunday.

Israeli Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein had been investigating allegations that Sharon improperly intervened with the government on behalf of friends who received high compensation for expropriated land. There was not enough evidence to proceed, the statement said.

Still, Rubinstein found that "the incident most definitely constitutes a deviation from accepted norms of behavior," the statement said.

The Israeli newspaper Globes had reported in August that Sharon called the director general of the Ministry of Transportation about the expropriation of land owned by his former neighbors in the village of Kfar Malal in central Israel. The land had been seized by the Department of Public Works for road construction.

The neighbors reportedly received $110,000 above the initial compensation offer after Sharon's phone call.

A statement from Sharon's office at the time the allegations surfaced confirmed a call had been made but denied any wrongdoing.

Rubinstein ruled that the $720,000 that the neighbors were to receive for their land was unjustified and canceled the decision.

Two more unrelated corruption cases remain open against Sharon, the third sitting prime minister to be targeted in a corruption probe.

Source: Agencies

Questions?Comments? Click here

Sharon Pledges to Remove Settler Outposts

Sharon: Arafat is "greatest obstacle to peace"

Sharon says no plans to kill Arafat

Is English invading Chinese culture? ( 20 Messages)

Chinese fleet visit heart of US forces in the Pacific ( 15 Messages)

Global survey: Chinese women sexiest ( 56 Messages)

Economist: China has no need to worry about possible trade deficits ( 3 Messages)

Japanese students, teacher make apology in Xi'an ( 17 Messages)

China expects to see trade deficit in near future: official ( 9 Messages)