Olmert appears in court in first trial of a current or past Israeli prime minister

Olmert trial opens in Jerusalem courtroom

JERUSALEM — Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert is appearing in court as the first trial of a current or past Israeli leader opens in Jerusalem.

Olmert faces charges of illegally accepting funds from an American supporter and double-billing Jewish groups for trips abroad, among others.

Entering the court Friday, Olmert said he is “innocent of any crime” and that he believes the court will agree.

The accusations dated from Olmert’s time as Jerusalem mayor and later as a Cabinet minister, but emerged when he was prime minister. He eventually resigned over the allegations.

The 63-year-old Olmert left politics when Benjamin Netanyahu became prime minister last March.