Ehud Olmert 12th Prime Minister of Israel

Ehud Olmert, 12th Prime Minister of Israel

Ehud Olmert (Hebrew: אהוד אולמרט‎, born 30 September 1945) is an Israeli political figure, and former Prime Minister of Israel having served from 2006 to 2009. Olmert was the mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003. In 2003 he was elected to the Knesset and became a minister and Acting Prime Minister in the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. On 4 January 2006, after Sharon suffered a severe hemorrhagic stroke, Olmert began exercising the powers of the office of Prime Minister. Olmert led Kadima to a victory in the March 2006 elections (just two months after Sharon had suffered his stroke) and continued on as Acting Prime Minister. On 14 April, two weeks after the election, Sharon was declared permanently incapacitated, allowing Olmert to legally become Interim Prime Minister. Less than a month later, on 4 May, Olmert and his new, post-election government were approved by the Knesset, thus Olmert officially became Prime Minister of Israel.

Olmert and his government enjoyed healthy relations with the Fatah-led Palestinian National Authority, which culminated in November 2007 at the Annapolis Conference. However, during his tenure as Prime Minister, there were major military conflicts with both Hezbollah and Hamas (predominately in the Gaza Strip). Olmert and Minister of Defense Amir Peretz were heavily criticized for their handling of the 2006 Lebanon War. In late 2008, a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel ended, which led to the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict. Olmert declared that the Israeli Defense Force would target the Hamas leadership and infrastructure in the war.

Throughout his premiership, Olmert was accused of corruption. Facing a challenge for the leadership of Kadima from Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, on 30 July 2008, Olmert announced that he would not seek re-election as party leader and that he would resign from his position as Prime Minister immediately after a new Kadima leader was named. Livni won the contest and sought to form a new government in September of that year. However, Livni's attempts at forming a new government were unsuccessful and instead an election was scheduled for February 2009. On February 20, Israeli President, Shimon Peres, chose Benjamin Netanyahu to become the new Prime Minister and asked him to form a Coalition Government, after there was no clear victory in the elections. Netanyahu succeeded Olmert on 31 March 2009.

On August 30, 2009 an indictment against former prime minister Ehud Olmert 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: 'Rishontours', 'Talansky' (Also known as 'Money envelopes' affair) and the 'Investment Center'.

Education: B.A. & LL.B., Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Psychology, Philosophy and Law

Military Service: Golani Brigade, Military Correspondent for ”Bamachane”

Roles in the Government:

• Knesset 12
  • Govt. 23: Minister Without Portfolio
  • Govt. 30:
    • Until 16/04/2006 - Acting Prime Minister; Minister of Industry, Trade, and Labor.
    • From 29/09/2003 Until 10/01/2005 - Minister of Communications.
    • From 09/08/2005 Until 07/11/2005 - Acting Minister of Finance
    • From 07/11/2005 - Minister of Finance
    • From 16/04/2006 - Interim Prime Minister
• Knesset 17:
  • Govt. 31:
    • Prime Minister
    • Until 21/03/2007 - Minister of Welfare and Social Services

Public Activities:

• Former Treasurer of the Likud Party
• Mayor of Jerusalem (1993-2003)