Judge David Rozen might reject the plea bargain between the state and Shula Zaken, who served as former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's bureau chief for many years. If that happens, the verdict in the Holyland trial would be rendered on Monday, as planned. That is all very well, but Rozen can do the right thing by letting Zaken amend her testimony. Olmert's estranged confidante should be allowed to elaborate on how he had allegedly obstructed justice during the trial. If she does get called back to the stand, this would mandate a stay of verdict. Olmert would also be recalled to the stand to counter the allegations, after the police question him, as will a long line of other witnesses. There are important ramifications for both scenarios. But the testimonies in court, important as they may be, are of zero consequence when they are compared to the "Olmert tapes" Zaken apparently has. The tapes reportedly feature the two "talking business" about the corrupt practices that allegedly plagued Olmert's bureau. If Zaken really has such a smoking gun, he better worry. Once the public hears the unvarnished truth on these tapes, Olmert would no longer be able to attack Zaken as a corrupt individual, and he would no longer be able to say that the State Attorney's Office is out to get him. Once the tapes come out, he will be denied the luxury of attacking anyone he sees fit on the prosecution's side. He will have destroyed the walls that surround him. This all brings me back to a trial that took place many years ago. The defendant, one of the ultra-Orthodox MKs, faced bribery charges. Then-State Attorney Dorit Beinisch was willing to offer him a plea bargain and later explained that she was willing to show leniency because she wanted him to plead guilty. By having him own up to his actions, no one could later cry foul and say that he was falsely accused. She guaranteed that no one would chant "he is innocent" or "he is discriminated against" or claim that the state was "out to get him." Similarly, the "Olmert tapes" could speak for themselves; they will likely prove more important than any other piece of evidence. Ayala Hasson presided over a powerful broadcast on Friday on Channel 1. She interviewed the daughter of state witness Shmuel Dechner, who said Zaken should not be intimidated by Olmert's attorney Roy Blecher or by any other of Olmert's cronies. The Sons of Light have seen the Sons of Darkness carry the day all too often; but now, it seems,the truth is about to trump the falsities. As the Bible says, it will finally spread all over, "as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9). True, we do not need the tapes. The deal with Zaken was a source of much controversy at the State Attorney's Office. Among those who deliberated on the matter were State Attorney Shai Nitzan and the State Attorney's Office's Tel Aviv Financial Crime Division head Liat Ben-Ari, as were the prosecutors who indicted Olmert in his previous trial. But now, with the plea bargain signed, it should be acknowledged by the judge. If he refuses to sign off on it, the state should forgo an appeal on the verdict. Too bad the tapes will not be made public. Average Israelis should get the chance to form their own opinions on Olmert without any middleman telling them what to think. Even if the Holyland verdict is read as planned, and even if the appeal in Olmert's previous trial plays out in the Supreme Court as if the tapes do not exist, the police can still use the recordings to launch another investigation against the former prime minister, this time to determine whether he had obstructed justice. The time has come for justice to prevail.
