By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said Sunday that it is unrealistic to expect a decision in the near future on the ongoing investigation against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
“I am not certain that in the coming weeks we will make a legal decision, this is an unrealistic attitude,” Mazuz said in an interview with Israeli TV Channel Two broadcast on Sunday.
The program was aired shortly after Israeli State Prosecutor’s Office voiced support for the Jerusalem District Court’s decision to hear on May 25 preliminary testimony from New York financier Morris Talansky, a key witness and suspect in the bribery probe which could force Olmert out of office.
Olmert’s lawyers have submitted a petition to block the deposition, claiming that such an arrangement is groundless as it is still not clear what crimes Olmert is suspected of, while the prosecution said in response on Sunday that Olmert has no right to challenge the court’s decision and the American businessman may not wish to return to Israel to testify at a later date.
Talansky later said in a statement that he will leave Israel on May 26 and will not agree to an extension, but he plans to return to Israel in the future both for family affairs and out of his strong connection with the Jewish state.
Israeli Supreme Court is set to hold a hearing on the deposition decision Monday.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police is seeking to question Olmert in the coming days, the second one since the fifth investigation against him earlier this month. Olmert has said that he would resign if indicted.
Police first questioned Olmert on May 2 about money he received from Talansky. Investigators have since raided offices at Jerusalem’s city hall and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, which Olmert had headed.
Local daily Ha’aretz reported that the investigators are keen to interview Olmert before Talansky offers his early testimony, due to concerns that otherwise Olmert may “doctor” his version to avoid being incriminated.