Mr. Olmert was also sentenced in May to eight months in prison for fraud and breach of trust, in a separate case involving an American businessman, Morris Talansky. The start of that term was postponed pending an appeal, and Mr. Olmert’s lawyers have been examining the possibility of any sentence being served concurrently with Mr. Olmert’s current prison term.

Mr. Olmert emphasized in his statement that none of the charges pertained to his time as prime minister, and he appealed to Israelis not to forget his efforts at peacemaking and his service to the country.

As prime minister, Mr. Olmert held extensive peace negotiations with the Palestinians and indirect talks with Syria, through Turkish mediators. He hinted darkly in his videotaped statement on Monday that his conviction, which he described as a result of a “legal snowball,” grew out of something more than legal considerations.

“Perhaps with more distance, the public will be able to examine this dire moment with a critical and balanced outlook,” he said. “I hope that then they will recognize that during my tenure as prime minister, honest and promising steps were taken to open a door of hope for a better future of peace, happiness and security.”

The prison authorities will now be responsible for the security of a prisoner who was privy to state secrets.

Mr. Olmert will be held in Wing 10 of Maasiyahu Prison, a section that many Israelis refer to as the V.I.P. wing. The Israeli Prison Service said that renovations of the wing had been completed in recent days and that four other prisoners had already been transferred there. For Mr. Olmert’s protection, all residents of Wing 10 are to be vetted.

Several people who have been convicted in the Holyland case are expected to join him there.

The wing has six cells, each with three beds, a shower and toilet, a cupboard, a table and chairs, and a television set. It also has its own library, yard and dining room, as well as telephones in the corridor.