Olmert

Ehud Olmert is an Israeli politician who served as the country's Prime Minister from 2006 to 2009. Born on September 30, 1945, in Binyamina, Palestine under British rule, Olmert moved to Mandatory Palestine with his family in 1949. He later immigrated to the United States and studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Olmert entered politics in the 1970s, joining the Likud party. He served in various positions, including mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003. Olmert's leadership during the 2000 elections led to a power-sharing agreement between Likud and the Labor party, with Sharon serving as Prime Minister. After Ariel Sharon's stroke in 2006, Olmert took over as Prime Minister.

During his tenure, Olmert oversaw the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza in 2005, ending the Second Intifada. However, his government was criticized for its response to the 2006 Lebanon War and the 2008 Israel-Gaza conflict. In 2008, Olmert announced his resignation as Prime Minister after an indictment was filed against him for bribery and obstruction of justice. He was later convicted and pleaded guilty to accepting bribes while serving as mayor.

Olmert served as a member of parliament between 2009 and 2013. He later resigned from the Knesset in 2012 due to a court decision. In 2008, Olmert's residence was raided and evidence was seized, leading to his prosecution. A criminal trial was held between 2009 and 2015. In 2015, Olmert was acquitted of obstruction charges and convicted of fraud but acquitted of bribery.