Israel PM threatened by widening corruption probe

JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert faced mounting calls to resign and increased pressure from within his own party on Monday as the latest corruption probe into the embattled premier widened.

A senior minister from Olmert's centrist Kadima party warned that Israel's foes view the multiple corruption investigations into the premier's affairs as a "sign of weakness."

"Many of our enemies consider these affairs as a sign of weakness in Israel, and in my opinion security is the most important thing," Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz told public radio.

"Iran is trying to get a nuclear weapon, Hezbollah is rearming and the truce with Hamas is fragile. We have to prove that we are strong," said Mofaz, who is expected to run for Kadima's leadership in a September vote.

The media have been abuzz with speculation that Olmert's political career will soon be over in ...