Olmert Miffed Not To Be On List Of Criminals Freed For Iran

He had expected to be rewarded for conducting a 2006 war with Iran’s proxy Hezbollah in such a way that the Shiite organization gained credibility

Jerusalem, January 16 – Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert voiced anger over his omission from the roster of criminal suspects and convicts either released or  removed from an arrest list in an American deal with Iran, his attorney said today.

Olmert, scheduled to begin an eighteen-month prison sentence for corruption in several weeks, had hoped to be included in the group in order to escape the impending imprisonment. His lawyer, Annie McCabbel-Shohad, explained that his client was let down by the news, as he had expected to be rewarded for conducting a 2006 war with Iran’s proxy Hezbollah in such a way that the Shiite organization gained credibility, eroding Israeli deterrence and shoring up Iran’s influence in the region.

“Few people in the middle East have made such an important long-term contribution of this magnitude toward Iranian hegemony,” insisted McCabel-Shohad. “From failing to prosecute the Second Lebanon War to a satisfactory conclusion, to coming within a hairsbreadth of signing away Jewish sovereignty over the people’s most ancient and cherished areas, my client stands head and shoulders above many of the people Iran demanded be released or reprieved in terms of advancing Tehran’s interests and weakening those of the democratic West. This news is a blow to Mr. Olmert’s morale.”

The attorney added that in addition to the above accomplishments, Olmert’s achievement of becoming the first sitting prime minister to be forced out of office amid criminal allegations contributed to an unprecedented weakening of public trust in government institutions, a continuing phenomenon that plays into Iran’s hands. “The less Israelis feel they can rely on their political system, the less confident they feel serving that system, and the lower national morale will, in turn, reduce the motivation of the IDF and compromise its effectiveness,” she said. “That will make it easier for Iran’s allies in Lebanon, Gaza, and elsewhere to chip away at Israel and expand Tehran’s influence in is place.”

According to McCabel-Shohad, Olmert is especially upset that people with far less impressive anti-Israel resumes were included in the deal while he was ignored. “Some cyber-criminal? A couple of arms traffickers? Ehud sincerely wants to believe this is some sort of sick joke,” she said. “If, as initially rumored, the people responsible for the Iran-financed bombings of Jewish and Israeli targets in Argentina in the 1990’s were on the list, he might be able to swallow it, but as it is, this is just a slap in the face. After all he’s done for Iran’s interests in the region, they really could have shown some appreciation.”

She conceded there remains the prospect of Olmert being freed as part of a release by Israel of Palestinian prisoners.