Ehud Olmert Editorial Image

Then Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert welcomes new immigrants from North America to Israel at Ben-Gurion Airport in Lod, Israel, on July 23, 2003. Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem from 1993-2003 while a member of the Likud Party, and was prime minister from 2006-2009, while leading the Kadima Party. He was a Member of the Knesset (parliament) and a former Minister of Health. Olmert was Deputy Prime Minister under Ariel Sharon and during Sharon’s illness became acting-Prime Minister. When Sharon did not come out of his coma from a stroke, he took over as PM. He was a pragmatic leader when it came to negotiations with the Palestinians. But under his helm the nation became embroiled in armed conflicts with Lebanon and Gaza. His administration was also plagued with allegations of corruption and he relinquished leadership of his party in 2009. On March 31, 2014 he was convicted of bribery charges.