The Long Island Rabbi Who Toppled Olmert

Counts date back to time as mayor of Jerusalem

(NEWSER) - Things got worse for Ehud Olmert today, as the former Israeli prime minister was indicted on charges related to bribes he allegedly took back when he was mayor of Jerusalem. Olmert is already on trial for three unrelated counts, but the new charges are the most serious: He’s accused of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars to facilitate the construction of a massive Jerusalem housing complex widely known as "the monster," the New York Times reports. More»

... so they can become parents

(NEWSER) - It might well be the most unusual matchmaking service in the world: An Israeli rabbi specializes in setting up Orthodox Jewish gay men with Orthodox lesbians for marriage, reports the AP . The idea is that they can raise a family together while still adhering to religious laws. The spouses could "date" members of the same sex during the marriage, which doesn't qualify as adultery because it's out in the open, argues rabbi Arele Harel. More»

They thought he was a lawyer

(NEWSER) - Israeli rabbis went rabid over a local dog because he was acting like a lawyer. A Jerusalem rabbinical court ordered the stoning death of the stray because they believed it was the reincarnation of a troublesome, foul-mouthed attorney who clashed with the court. The beast entered the Jerusalem financial court several weeks ago and would not leave, reminding judges of a curse from a late lawyer (made 20 years ago) after justices told his spirit to enter the body of a dog, reports the BBC . More»

Ex-Israeli PM convinced in court he'll 'be able to prove his innocence once and for all'

(NEWSER) - Israel’s attorney general has officially indicted former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on corruption charges, the BBC reports. The 61-page charge, filed in court today, accuses Olmert of "fraud, breach of trust, registering false corporate documents, and concealing fraudulent earnings.” Olmert denies all the charges, which relate to three different cases in Olmert’s political life before he became prime minister. More»

(NEWSER) - Israeli police have recommended the indictment of the country's foreign minister for bribery, money laundering, and other corruption charges, Haaretz reports. Avigdor Lieberman, who leads the ultranationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party and was kingmaker in February's closely-run election, has been under investigation for years and is accused of funneling cash to a chain of front companies and bank accounts even after he became a minister. If charged and convicted he faces 31 years in jail. More»