Israel's Finance Minister, Avraham Hirchson, has taken a three-month leave of absence pending a police probe into corruption in a labour union he once headed.
Israel's Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert said he had granted the request and that he would serve as acting finance minister during Hirchson's leave.
Hirchson, of Olmert's centrist Kadima party, has been questioned four times by police in recent weeks over suspicions of involvement in aggravated robbery and fraud, embezzlement, obstruction of justice and conspiring to commit a crime.
He has denied the allegations.
In January, police confirmed media reports that a graft probe had been launched against Hirchson, the latest in a string of Israeli officials to face corruption charges.
The allegations are part of an investigation into embezzlement of millions of dollars from the right-wing National Workers Federation labour body.
