Israeli justice minister resigns in sex scandal

Israel's justice minister handed in his resignation Sunday, two days after he said he would step down to face accusations that he forcibly kissed an 18-year-old female soldier.

Israeli media reported Sunday that Haim Ramon, 56, allegedly forcibly kissed the soldier during a farewell party at a government office. The incident allegedly took place July 12, the day the fighting in southern Lebanon erupted.

Ramon said on Friday he intended to resign after Israel's attorney general announced plans to indict him on an indecent assault charge.

The departure of Ramon was the latest setback for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has been under intense criticism over his government's handling of the war in Lebanon.

Ramon has been a key Olmert ally and one of the biggest and most influential supporters of a plan to unilaterally withdraw from much of the West Bank by 2010.

It is also the latest scandal to hit the Olmert government.

Jerusalem property deal

Israel's state comptroller has confirmed it is looking into a Jerusalem property deal in which Olmert allegedly bought an apartment in 2004 for $1.2 million US.

The comptroller's office told Reuters it is still investigating the case. The prime minister's office has reserved comment, pending an official approach on the matter by the comptroller.

"The significance is clear: Politically, Olmert is a dead man walking," political commentator Ari Shavit wrote last week in the left-leaning Haaretz newspaper.

But Reuters quoted other political analysts who said it was unlikely any of Olmert's coalition partners were interested in bringing down the government after only three months in power. Israel's next scheduled election is four years away.

Other scandals facing the Olmert government:

• President Moshe Katsav has been accused by a former employee ofcoercing herto have sex with him. Katsav has denied the woman's allegations, which Reuters said police are investigating.
• Tzahi Hanegbi of Kadima, the chairman of parliament's influential defence and foreign affairs committee, was informed earlier this week he would be charged with fraud, bribery and perjury.
• Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz, chief of staff of Israel's armed forces, has acknowledged selling off his stock portfolio just hours after Hezbollah gunmen kidnapped two Israeli soldiers July 12 triggering the five-week Lebanon war. While regulatory authorities have said he did nothing illegal, Reuters said many Israelis are questioning why cutting his own financial losses was on Halutz's mind at such a time.