Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, following his acquittal on the most serious corruption charges, said he does not intend to return to politics.

Olmert, speaking July 12 at a conference in Tel Aviv two days after he was acquitted on corruption charges that prompted his resignation from office four years ago, also said that he would remain a member of the Kadima party.

“I want to calm down anyone who is worried — I have no intention of re-entering politics,” Olmert reportedly said at a conference of the Institute for National Security Studies.

The Jerusalem District Court acquitted Olmert on charges of fraud, breach of trust, tax evasion and falsifying corporate records in what became known as the Talansky and Rishon Tours affairs. He was found guilty on a lesser charge of breach of trust in the Investment Center case, in which he was accused of granting personal favors while he was Israel’s trade minister. — jta