Shimon Peres said Ehud Olmert is one of Israel’s best prime
ministers. Peres, currently the vice premier, came out Saturday against detractors of the
embattled prime minister. “I think he has had a difficult period in office,”
Peres told Israel Radio. “I think he is one of the best prime ministers that
there has been. I think he has been making great and praise-worthy efforts.”
Olmert’s popularity has plummeted following last year’s inconclusive
Lebanon war and a slew of high-level political scandals in Israel. But Peres
urged the public to await the findings of a war inquiry and the justice
system.
“They have passed judgement before the trial,” he said. “They have given him a
bad name before matters have been made clear.”
