The Forward Newspaper Online: THE SITUATION: Sharon's Future Seen in Doubt As Son Faces Criminal Charges: "Just two weeks before the commencement of what could be the decisive political step in his career � pulling Israeli troops and settlers out of Gaza � Ariel Sharon suffered one of his career's most serious political and personal blows: the indictment of his son, Omri, on campaign finance violations.
The indictment, announced Tuesday by Israel's attorney general, Menachem Mazuz, is not expected to derail the Gaza disengagement, which is to begin August 15 and end six weeks later. It could, however, cast a long shadow over Sharon's hopes of remaining in office much beyond the pullout. The younger Sharon, a Knesset member and close confidante of his father, is charged with serious violations allegedly committed while he was running his father's 1999 campaign for the Likud party leadership. If the case goes to trial � as Omri Sharon has vowed it will � what comes out could very well end not only his career, but also his father's.
The indictment, which followed long and fruitless plea negotiations, was timed with precision. Mazuz waited until the moment a new law took effect, approved by the Knesset just two days earlier, easing the process of removing lawmakers' parliamentary immunity. Omri Sharon not only voted for the new law, but also promptly asked that his own immunity be lifted. In a letter to Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, the younger Sharon frankly admitted violating the campaign finance laws in effect at the time, but said the laws were 'absurd and out of touch with reality.' That seemed to indicate Omri's likely line of defense, should there be a trial.
Justice Ministry sources indicated that although the plea negotiations had broken down, they could resume soon � this time with a different ending.
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1 comment:
History repeating itself.
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