Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last week approached President Reuven Rivlin, asking for him to delete his criminal record, Srugim reported. Olmert argued that he deserves this gesture because of everything he had done for the state.
In 2016, Olmert was sentenced to 19 months in prison for receiving a 60,000 shekel bribe. He was released in 2017, having served 16 months. His sentence constituted a status of disgrace, which disqualifies him from holding political office for seven years. Should the president delete his conviction, Olmert could return to political life at once.
Olmert appears eager to return to politics, and only one week ago, he met with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in the US, where both issued a joint statement in opposition to President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
In 2006, Olmert offered Abbas part of eastern Jerusalem as the capital of a new Palestinian State. Abbas refused, but, hey, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.