Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is alleged to be involved in a number of corruption scandals, and faces a criminal investigation in one case. He denies any wrongdoing in all cases.
THE TALANSKY CASE
Prosecutors are investigating donations to Mr Olmert - reported to amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars - from a New York-based financier, Morris (or Moshe) Talansky.
Olmert denies corruption allegations but says he will resign if charged
Mr Olmert admits taking money, but insists they were legal donations to fund his campaigns for re-election as mayor of Jerusalem and for the leadership of the Likud party.
In a sensational court appearance that outraged media commentators and shocked many Israelis, Mr Talansky said he handed over cash to Mr Olmert amounting to $150,000 to fund political campaigns, as well as - he hinted - a liking for fine hotels, cigars, pens and watches.
Mr Talansky said he was not aware how all the money had been spent, nor did he receive any favours as a result of his fundraising. He did say that he gave a "loan" - never repaid - of $25,000 so Mr Olmert could go on holiday to Italy.
There have as yet been no charges filed in the case. The witness was questioned under oath during a private visit to Israel on 28 May and will be cross-examined on a later date.
The testimony has prompted calls for Mr Olmert to stand down from Ehud Barak of the Labour party, a junior coalition member. Mr Olmert has stressed he will only resign if indicted.
'FRAUD'
In July, police widen the investigation into Mr Talansky's allegations to also look at whether Mr Olmert may have committed fraud.
A statement issued by the police and justice ministry after the prime minister is interviewed for a third time about the corruption allegations says he was also "asked to give his account about suspicions of serious fraud and other offences".
"According to the suspicions, during his tenure as Jerusalem mayor and trade and industry minister, Olmert would seek duplicate funding for his trips abroad from public bodies, including from the state, with each of them requested to fund the same trip," it adds.
Police suspect that the "considerable sums" that remained after the travel expenses were paid for were transferred by Mr Olmert to a special account his travel agency administered for him.
"These monies were used to finance private trips abroad by Olmert and his family," the police statement says.
Mr Olmert later insists he "never took a penny" from any of the public bodies.
'ABUSE OF POWER'
Israel's attorney general has ordered police to investigate decisions taken by Mr Olmert when he was trade and industry minister between 2003 and 2005.
A statement by the attorney general said police would investigate whether Mr Olmert had appointed political associates to the Medium and Small Enterprises Authority and other government bodies.
They will also look into whether Mr Olmert helped secure special funding for a factory represented by his ex-law partner, the statement said.
Mr Olmert's office has denied the allegations, saying: "These are unnecessary investigations. It's clear beyond any doubt that the investigation will yield nothing."
BANK LEUMI
In November, police said there were no grounds to lay charges against Mr Olmert in connection with the privatisation of a bank while he was finance minister in 2005.
Mr Olmert was alleged to have tried to influence the sale of the state's controlling interest in Bank Leumi, Israel's second-largest bank, in favour of a friend.
PROPERTY PURCHASE (OR THE CREMIEUX STREET AFFAIR)
Mr Olmert is facing a criminal investigation by police into his purchase of a Jerusalem property.
A government watchdog found that he paid $325,000 (£162,500) below market value for the house.
The prime minister has insisted the price was fair and the inquiry was "uncalled for".
If police do find that Mr Olmert received favourable terms in return for benefits to the vendor, they will pass the matter to the attorney general to decide whether he is charged.
The case is known as the Cremieux Street affair after the address of the property.
AIDE INVESTIGATED
A senior official in Mr Olmert's office was placed under house arrest as part of an alleged corruption scandal in January 2007.
Shula Zaken, Mr Olmert's personal secretary and a close aide for 30 years, allegedly abused her position to influence the appointment of some tax officials in return for tax benefits.
Ms Zaken has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing. Police have said that there is no direct connection in this case to Mr Olmert.
She has been released from house arrest, but suspended from her job pending investigations.
'CONFLICT OF INTEREST'
Israel's commissioner for standards in public life recommended in April 2007 that police investigate a business deal Mr Olmert made before he became prime minister.
State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss alleged that Mr Olmert had arranged investment opportunities for a friend while he was industry minister.
Mr Lindenstrauss alleged that Mr Olmert had placed himself in situation where a conflict of interest arose by dealing personally with issues involving his lawyer, friend and former business partner Uri Messner.
Mr Messner was applying for financial benefits from the state through the Industry Ministry's Investment Centre.
The prime minister's office has said that Mr Olmert did not intervene personally in any way in the application.
Mr Messner has said that his dealings with the industry ministry were "routine" and "businesslike".
At the time of the allegations, a spokeswoman for Mr Olmert accused the state comptroller of unprecedented unprofessionalism and duplicity.
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