Following a lengthy and reportedly testy parole hearing on Thursday, former prime minister Ehud Olmert was granted early release from prison on July 2. He began serving a 27-month term for bribery and fraud in February 2016. Some were surprised by the decision to grant the time-off because there is a new issue that has not been resolved: accusations that he mishandled classified information that he is using to write a book. The prosecution is seeking a stay of Olmert’s release, largely because the classified material deals with confidential security actions for which the government has never accepted responsibility. Olmert is the first Israeli prime minister to serve jail time for crimes committed while in public office.
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