Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians is closer than ever.

Olmert addressed a summit of Mediterranean leaders in Paris Sunday.

He says he'll release more Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails as a goodwill gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

But skeptics in Israel wonder how Olmert can make peace deals when he's facing his sixth criminal probe since he became prime minister.

Police now suspect Olmert issued double and triple bills for the same expensive trips abroad, then used the extra money to fund trips for his family.

One opposition leader says the parties in Olmert's coalition are to blame for keeping him in power.