Israel's attorney general is leaning towards dropping a bribery case against Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in a scandal that has threatened to topple him, according to Israeli newspapers.
But Justice Minister Yosef Lapid said today that Attorney General Menachem Mazuz had not yet reached a decision on whether to indict Mr Sharon, who has denied any wrongdoing. Political analysts say an indictment would probably force Mr Sharon to resign.
The dailies Haaretzand Maarivcited sources close to the investigation as saying that Mr Mazuz was tilting toward closing the "Greek Island" bribery case without filing criminal charges against Mr Sharon.
But Haaretzquoted sources as saying Mr Mazuz was not yet close to a final decision, which is expected by mid-June, and Israel Radio quoted Justice Ministry sources as saying all options remained open.
The Jerusalem Postsaid senior police investigators and a committee of legal experts appointed by Mazuz to study the case believed there was too little evidence to press charges against Mr Sharon.
The case centres on payments of hundreds of thousands of dollars that an Israeli land developer and Likud stalwart was alleged to have made to Mr Sharon's son Gilad, whom he hired in the late 1990s as an adviser on a never-completed project to build a resort in Greece.
The real estate developer, Mr David Appel, was chaged in January on charges of trying to bribe Mr Sharon. Israel's chief prosecutor has officially recommended indicting the Israeli Prime Minister..
Mr Sharon also faces investigation for possible criminal charges in two other corruption scandals. He has denied any misconduct.