The trial of the former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on corruption charges is to begin in Jerusalem.
Mr Olmert stands accused of fraud, breach of trust, falsifying corporate records and failing to declare income. He denies the charges.
It all relates to the periods when Mr Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem and a cabinet minister, but before he became the Israeli prime minister in 2006.
Mr Olmert's lawyers have described the prosecution case as ridiculously weak.
Ehud Olmert was forced to resign last September over allegations that include taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash payments from an American businessman, Moshe Talanksy.
It is alleged the funds were used to fund Mr Olmert's election campaign when he was mayor of Jerusalem, but Mr Olmert insists he never took a penny for himself. read more
