| Israeli police raided government offices Sunday as | | | | under investigation for his purchase of a home in |
| part of a series of criminal investigations into | | | | the city in 2004. The prime minister is accused of |
| Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's conduct in a previous | | | | buying the home at a discounted price in |
| cabinet post. | | | | exchange for helping the builder obtain |
| A police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, says fraud | | | | construction permits from the city government. |
| investigators searched 20 locations, including the | | | | The prime minister has denied any wrongdoing. |
| Industry and Trade Ministry and the Postal | | | | Last month, Israeli fraud investigators questioned |
| Authority, for potential evidence in connection to | | | | Mr. Olmert for several hours in connection to the |
| the probes. There were no immediate details on | | | | allegations. |
| what evidence police are seeking. | | | | The investigations come as the prime minister's |
| The prime minister is suspected of trying to steer | | | | approval ratings are recovering after stinging |
| the sale of a government contract to a friend in | | | | criticism over his handling of last year's war in |
| 2005, when Mr. Olmert was serving as finance | | | | Lebanon. |
| minister. | | | | Some information for this report was provided by |
| Mr. Olmert, a former Jerusalem mayor, is also | | | | AP and Reuters. |