Labor Party leaders are rallying behind former Foreign Minister Abba Eban in his efforts to show that he committed no offense against the currency laws by maintaining substantial bank accounts in the United States. Adi Amorai, Labor’s top financial expert in the Knesset, told party colleagues yesterday that a study of Eban’s case convinced him there was no wrong-doing. “If Eban were prosecuted he would be acquitted,” Amorai said.
Eban, who has the number three spot on the Labor Party election list, is virtually certain to be named Foreign Minister if Labor forms the next government after the May 17 elections. He is being urged by key party members to make more public appearances in the election campaign. However, the Treasury is investigating the case and the final decision as to whether Eban committed an offense and should be prosecuted rests with Attorney General Aharon Barak.
According to informed sources, no decision is likely before election day. This has aroused the ire of Likud which claims that the government is dragging its feet to keep the case out of court until after elections. Likud legal circles may seek an order nisi from the Supreme Court to speed up the investigation.
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