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| By Israel Insider staff May 17, 2008 |
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The probe into Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's finances kicks into high gear this week, with police itching to probe him sooner rather than later and Olmert's shysters seek to delay the preliminary testimony of the bag-man-turned-state's-witness Morris Talansky, a New york area wheeler-dealer affectionately called "The Laundryman" by an Olmert crony.
Overlooked during the hubbub of the Bush visit were a juicy exchange between billionaire diet drink tycoon S. Daniel Abraham and a limo driver who allegedly performed some lucrative courier work to benefit Olmert in days before he was Prime Minister.
Thursday, former New York limousine driver Avi Sherman told Israeli TV that he delivered on Abraham's behalf suspected bribes, including bundles of money tucked into cases of Slim Fast diet products and cash-stuffed envelopes, to Olmert.
Abraham, a billionaire and longtime Democratic fundraiser, strongly denied the allegations, telling Army Radio: "Of course I never gave any money to Ehud Olmert. The very question is insulting to me. This is my reputation at risk and I have no reason to risk it."
Abraham said that he was questioned by police as a witness, not a suspect. He didn't even recognize the driver when police introduced Sherman to him. The driver said that he made such cash deliveries many times, although he declined to specify how many.
Some of the irregular contributions were reportedly transferred through the New Jerusalem Foundation, a charity founded by Olmert in 1999. The foundation's treasurer, Talansky, was deposed last week by authorities probing claims he gave $480,000 in bribes to Olmert and others.
Zvi Raviv, former director general of the group, told ABC News that the charity "did not transfer one single cent for any political purposes, with or without Talansky," explaining that "there was no hanky-panky, no bulls *."
Raviv, who hired Talansky as the group's treasurer in the United States, emphasized that the foundation was never asked to transfer money to Olmert. The fact that the money managed to arrive to Olmert in Slim-Fast cans was not his concern. He explained that Abraham once made a contribution of $50,000 to NJF by successfully bidding on a mosaic lion artwork at a charity auction in Florida in 2004. "The entire sum went to finance Tzamid, a project for children with disabilities in Jerusalem," Raviv explained.
Raviv's wife, Sheila, refuted recent reports that Talansky bribed Olmert to install speed bumps on a street near the home of Talansky's son in Jerusalem. "They don't mention the fact that it's the chief rabbi's house -- that's why there are speed bumps in the street."
Talansky, who denied trying to bribe Olmert and told reporters he believed all contributions were legal, is scheduled to give a court deposition next Sunday, May 25. He told police officers that before then he feared the prime minister would "send someone to harm him," according to state prosecutor Moshe Lador.
Olmert has denied all the allegations, and associates dismissed that he would take out a hit on the state's witness.
Earlier this week, Sheldon Adelson, a billionaire casino mogul who made his fortune in Las Vegas, was also questioned by police about his ties to Talansky. At a gala celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary Wednesday night, Adelson sat in the front row next to President Bush, Laura Bush, Olmert and other top officials. He preceded Bush to the stage, praising him as "the most supportive" president Israel has ever known. Adelson reportedly contributed some $3 million for the gala even.
Adelson has played an active role in Israeli politics, publishing the free conservative newspaper Israel Today and supporting ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Olmert's political opponent. |
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