Sharon’s son to face trial
Knesset Member Omri Sharon to be indicted on illegal fundraising charges, attorney general says; prime minister emerges from affair unscathed
JERUSALEM - The son of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will be indicted on illegal fundraising charges as the elder Sharon will not be charged, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz has decided.
According to the decision, Knesset Member Omri Sharon will be indicted for his role in establishing straw companies apparently set up to finance his father’s Likud leadership campaign in 1999.
An investigation into the matter was initiated in 2001 after the state comptroller’s report charged that financial offences were committed as part of the 1999 Likud leadership race. A subsequent police inquiry confirmed the suspicions.
Responding to decision to indict the younger Sharon, the Prime Minister's Office said: The prime minister trusts the attorney general and respects his decisions.
Omri Sharon, meanwhile, noted he has something to say in his defense but would speak directly to the attorney general.
Prime minister won't be indicted
Prime Minister Sharon is suspected to have received millions of shekels in illegal donations, but pledged to return the funds in light of the state comptroller’s findings.
The prime minister himself has emerged from the affair unscathed.
“Sharon did not directly handle the financial matters in general, and the illegal expenditures in particular,” Mazuz said. “There is no evidence to show Sharon was related to or aware of those expenditures.”
However, despite the decision not to indict the senior Sharon, he should have been more closely involved in managing his own campaign, the attorney general said.
Although there is apparently insufficient evidence to indict the prime minister, his conduct should still be subject to public debate and further scrutiny, says former Tel Aviv District Attorney Miriam Rosenthal.
“Mazuz’s decision indicates not everything is kosher with the senior Sharon,” she said.
Ariel Sharon’s top advisor Dov Weisglass was also questioned in connection with the case, but he will not face trial for lack of evidence, Mazuz said.
Politicians react to decision
National Unity Knesset Member Zvi Hendel said the decision to indict Omri Sharon is a “badge of shame” for Israel, considering the Sharon family runs the country.
The court will prosecute the young Sharon, while the public will hold his father accountable, Yahad party Knesset Member Ran Cohen said.
The indictment against Omri Sharon is used to absolve the prime minister of any responsibilty, Yahad party Knesset Member Yossi Sarid said in response to Mazuz’s decision.
"Omri Sharon operated on behalf of Ariel Sharon," he said.
