Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Bureau has today  released the following statement regarding the press release from State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss:

"We were astounded to hear – from the media, of course – State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss's remarks and grievances regarding Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's decision to submit for Government approval a draft decision according to the 1958 State Comptroller Law.
Article 21 of the 1958 State Comptroller Law states: 'The Comptroller shall, if requested to do so by the Knesset, the Committee or the Government, prepare an opinion as to any matter within the scope of his functions. The said opinion shall be published at a time specified by the Comptroller.'  All of the Prime Minister's actions in this regard, including those related to the State Comptroller, have been coordinated in advance, and will continue to be coordinated, with Attorney General Meni Mazuz.  Having heard from the media that State Comptroller Lindenstrauss wrote the press release himself, we are convinced that he made an innocent mistake since it is inconceivable that he would not be familiar with the law according to which he works.

Prime Minister Olmert will – as soon as possible – submit the request to State Comptroller Lindenstrauss, according to Article 21 of the 1958 State Comptroller Law, to the Government for approval.  We trust that the State Comptroller will act according to the law."