Former Israeli leader Ehud Olmert jailed for eight months for corruption

Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has been sentenced to eight months in prison for unlawfully accepting money from an American supporter. Monday’s verdict in Jerusalem district court caps a dramatic downfall of a man who only years earlier led the country and hoped to bring about a historic peace agreement with the Palestinians. Olmert was convicted in March in a retrial. The sentencing comes in addition to a six-year prison sentence he received last year in a separate bribery conviction, ensuring the end of the former premier’s political career. Olmert’s lawyers said they would appeal the ruling. Olmert was forced to resign in early 2009 amid the corruption allegations. His departure cleared the way for hard-liner Benjamin Netanyahu’s election, and subsequent peace efforts have not succeeded. [caption id="attachment_76532" align="alignnone" width="620"] (FILES) A picture taken on June 10, 2008 shows former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert speaking during a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. Olmert has been indicted on three counts of corruption, becoming the first ex-premier to face criminal charges, the attorney general's office said on August 30, 2009. AFP PHOTO/POOL/DAVID FURST (Photo credit should read DAVID FURST/AFP/Getty Images)[/caption]