Israeli police questioned Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for seven hours on Thursday over political funding scandals that could dent his widespread public support among Israelis. Police are investigating the Right-wing leader and his two sons over a $1.5 million loan from a South Africa-based friend used as collateral to repay what judicial authorities found to have been illegal contributions to Sharon’s campaign for election as Likud party chief in 1999. Another scandal revolves around what police say was a bid by a developer with Likud ties to buy a Greek island with Sharon’s help when he was foreign minister by employing his son Gilad and donating to his campaign chest. Sharon has denied any wrongdoing and promised to cooperate with the investigation. ‘‘He was questioned for seven hours about the Greek island affair and the session is over,’’ a police spokesman said after investigators left Sharon’s residence in Jerusalem at the end of their first meeting with the Prime Minister. There was no immediate comment from Sharon or his office. Much of the publicity around the case has focused on Gilad Sharon’s refusal to answer police or hand over documents, citing his right to remain silent. (Reuters)
