ONE of the sons of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has been implicated in a bribery attempt over a foreign real estate project that may also have involved his father, Israeli media reported today, citing a newly released tape recording.

The allegation was the latest development in twin corruption investigations involving the elder Sharon and his sons Omri, a member of parliament, and Gilad, a private businessman.

The investigations focus on suspicions that Ariel Sharon allegedly obtained an illegal loan during his 1999 primary election campaign - possibly in exchange for financial favours - and that he was bribed by an Israeli businessman to promote a real estate project in Greece while serving as foreign minister in the 1990s. Sharon denies wrongdoing in the two affairs.

http://www.themercury.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,8243726%255E401,00.html