jerusalem (jps) | Yossi Olmert, brother of Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, has fled Israel to the United States because of personal economic distress.

An expert on Middle Eastern studies who has addressed Bay Area audiences, Yossi Olmert is a resident of Ra’anana and a Likud Central Committee member. According to sources close to the family, Yossi Olmert amassed huge debts in unsuccessful business ventures and attempts to break into local Ra’anana and national politics.

Yossi Olmert reportedly left for the United States after creditors, to whom he owed nearly $1 million, threatened his life. It is still unclear how long he intends to stay in the United States and he will reportedly lecture on Middle Eastern studies while he is there in order to recruit funds.

Brother Ehud rejected claims that his brother had immigrated for good to the United States, but he admitted that his sibling was in trouble.

“He has not emigrated from the country,” Ehud Olmert said. “Yossi has some problems, but he did not permanently leave the country and he is working on dealing with the problems.”

He added that the family has joined together to help extricate Yossi Olmert from his financial troubles.