[originaltext] Israeli Justice Ministry has confirmed that the Prime Minister

Israeli Justice Ministry has confirmed that the Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is under criminal investigation  on suspicion of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from a Jewish American business- man. The ministry has lifted an order preventing media reporting of the allegations. At a news conference Mr. Olmert denied breaking the law. Paul Wood reports from Jerusalem.
  In a brief televised statement, Ehud OImert declared: "I never took bribes; I never took a penny for myself." The Israeli Prime Minister said he would not resign unless he was formally charged. Mr. Olmert is alleged to have received hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Jewish-American financier Morris Talansky. The Israeli Prime Minister is facing several investigations into alleged corruption but for the first time foreign observers are raising the possibility that peace efforts with the Palestinians could be deflected by the allegation swirling around the Israeli head of government.