Police postpone Olmert decision

Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, in America for tomorrow's Annapolis peace talks, might have a question for Tony Blair if the two men can find a private moment: what do you do about zealous policemen on your tail? In a saga that some observers have likened to Blair and Lord Levy's long run-in with Scotland Yard over the cash-for-honours inquiry, Olmert has been the subject of investigation for months, with Israeli police apparently determined to make the PM's life as awkward as possible.

So much so that the police, investigating allegations of corruption, were threatening to announce on Sunday, just as he left for the US, whether they were recommending charges be brought against Olmert. In the event, they said they would delay their final decision until after Annapolis. Israel Radio reported that the police would not say why the announcement was scheduled for the day when their PM was due to leave the country for an important engagement – nor why the postponement was delayed until the eleventh hour.

Olmert is being investigated for three alleged abuses of power: first, that when he was finance minister in 2005 he tried to rig the sale of Israel's second-largest bank in favour of two friends; second, that he bought a house in Jerusalem at a substantial discount in exchange for political favours for the seller; and, third, that while he was trade minister he organised a lucrative government grant for a political supporter. Olmert denies any wrongdoing. ·