Was Olmert bribed to make 'gestures' to the 'Palestinians'? UPDATED
The Jerusalem District Court permitted publication this morning of the news that a 'foreign citizen' is to be questioned regarding bribing Prime Minister Ehud K. Olmert. That all but confirms the rumor that this scandal involves a bribe from someone in the United States. Meanwhile, the Tel Aviv District Court turned down an appeal by three newspapers against the gag order on the investigation, allowing it to remain in effect until at least Sunday - after the Independence Day holiday.Olmert's former bureau chief Shula Zakein is being questioned today under caution for the fourth time. The first three times, she invoked her right to remain silent.
YNet adds regarding the overseas deposition:
In this exceptional legal procedure, evidence is collected from a person who might not be able to testify in a future trial, in this case since this person seeks to return to his country.The implication is that this person is in Israel and is not currently abroad. In fact, Iran's Press TV reported that on Friday. But it gets even better. This is YNet again (by the way, YNet's Hebrew paper - Yediot Aharonot - is under investigation itself for leaking details about this case that came under the gag order last Friday):
The court stands to hold a hearing on the material witness petition later Tuesday. The decision on whether or not to apply the comprehensive gag order issued on the probe to the current proceeding will be made during the hearing itself.
The decision was made by a three-judge panel which included District Court Chief Justice Mosia Arad and the honorable Zvi Silbertal and Moshe Sobel.
Deposing a witness prior to trial is similar to having one testify before the court, with the witness being questioned by the prosecution and then cross-examined by the defense.
The fact that Attorney General Menachem Mazuz chose to petition for a pre-trial deposition, especially in this kind of a high-profile case indicates that the State believes it has a strong case on which to base an indictment.
Meanwhile, the Tel Aviv Magistrates' Court denied Tuesday the petition to have the gag ordered placed on the new investigation lifted. According to Justice Daniel Beeri, the gag order was left in place in order to "avoid impairing an ongoing investigation."Huh? That's the first I've heard of 'aiding the enemy.' Has Olmert been bribed to make 'gestures' or 'concessions' to the 'Palestinians?' That would sure explain an awful lot of his 'political moves.' This would argue otherwise:
The police's representative, Superintendent Iris Barak, said during the court hearing that making the affair public on the eve of Memorial Day – would harm the public interest. "I don’t believe that anyone would want to hear such a thing just before Memorial Day," she said. [Memorial Day is tomorrow. CiJ]
Attorney Mibi Mozer, who represented Haaretz newspaper in the court hearing, asked the judges to lift the gag order in order for the public to known whether the prime minister was accused of fraud or of aiding the enemy. He said he believed the State would only benefit from a removal of the gag order.
At present time the only information cleared for publication merely confirms the new allegations concern events that took place prior to his ascension to the premiership.I'm not sure it confirms anything of the sort, but in any event, Olmert was Foreign Minister under Sharon and was the architect of expelling Jews from Gaza. Was he bribed to do that? Not according to Olmert's office:
The questions dealt with donations by an American citizen between 1999 and 2002, before Olmert was prime minister, according to a statement from Olmert’s office.But can we believe 'Olmert's office?' Haaretz says that Zaken is facing the same charges as Olmert. To date, the only one of Olmert's affairs in which Zaken has been a suspect is the Tax Authority bribery scandal. Was Zaken involved in something else? Or is this somehow connected to that?
The money was meant to fund elections for the mayorship of Jerusalem and primaries in Olmert’s former political party, Likud, the statement said.
The longer this affair goes on, the seedier it gets. I find it hard to believe that there was nothing behind Haaretz's attorney's remark. Time will tell. But it's definitely possible Olmert took a bribe to make 'concessions' to the 'Palestinians' and if it turns out to be true, there is no question he would be forced to resign.
UPDATE 1:24 PM
It would be enlightening to know the identity of the American the police want to question. I believe that I know who it is, but I'm not saying until I can confirm that he is in Israel (although given that the country's 60th Independence Day is this week, it's hard to believe he is not).
UPDATE 2:21 PM
There may be a gag order in Israel, but that doesn't stop US papers from publishing the name of the American who is being questioned about bribing Olmert. Sorry guys, but I can't take the chance of giving you the link in the New York paper. I'm in Israel. Just search "Olmert" on their web site.
UPDATE 2:34 PM
Someone else in Israel just posted it according to Google. Meet M.T..
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:23 AM
8 Comments:
You want it. You got it.
ISRAEL SCANDAL'S LI LINK
REVEALED: BIZMAN WHO MIGHT TOPPLE OLMERT
http://tinyurl.com/667ny5
Hi Carl, the name of the man and some more details are in the New York Post:
I am told that Talansky is known on 47th St. for his money laundering.
I dream of Olmert being washed up and hung out to dry. Just hung will do.
BTW, I don't see how Talansky fits in with bribing Olmert to assist our enemies. Unless Talansky is heavily invested in Arab finances.
Shy Guy . . .
Talansky gave to Giuliani's campaign
Giuliani's statement about Islam (scroll & read after highlighted text) - "GIULIANI: Charlie, you wanted a free-for-all.
It is important to make this point. Just the opposite, Ron. I have great respect for the Islamic religion. I have great respect for the Arab world, for the Middle East.
I think we should be closer to them. I think we should trade more with them. I think we should have cultural exchanges with them.
The overwhelming majority of the Islamic world...
PAUL: Why do we support their dictators, then? Why do we prop up all their dictators?
GIBSON: (inaudible)
GIULIANI: ... and on the evening of September 11, 2001, the day my city was attacked, I got on television, and I said to the people of my city, "We're not going to engage in group blame. This is a small group of people. This does not typify a great religion and a great people."
Also look for WSJ article by Mary Jacoby "Qatar Contract Offers Glimpse Into Giuliani Firm" from November 2007.
Talansky supports Giuliani politically which indicates he is comfortable engaging in the dichotomy of commerce and national security.
Carl, IMRA has given the link to the NY Post on their website, because they could get no sense out of the Ministries they asked. It's farcical!
"Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: IMRA contacted the Censor's Office and the Ministry of Justice in order to find out if it is permissible to distribute in Israel an article from the New York Post website relating to the investigation of PM Olmert.
The Military Censor said this is not in their venue and to check with the Ministry of Justice.
The Spokesman's Office of the Ministry of Justice was not willing to take a position as to if it was permitted to distribute the article in Israel because of the gag order."
Heroyalwhyness, I personally sited and linked to those Gulianni articles on several blogs (maybe here, too - I don't remember) when they were published, in regard to people boasting how good Gulianni is for Israel.
With regard to this particular case, it may be true but we jsut don't have any facts yet.
Its not your ordinary bribery scandal in Israel. Politicians get away with that. Its much, much, much bigger if they need to slap a gag order on the press. One thing is for sure: Olmert isn't enjoying the 60th Independence Week a lot with a Damoclean Sword hanging over his head. In time, I'm sure we'll find out what's really bubbling in the pot.
I also looked up Talansky's donations in the US and my impression is that he paid equally to Republican and Democratic politicians.
I think it of more concern that he was among the investors suing in court against the Israeli "rent a spy satellite" for not agreeing to make biz Chavez who might have forwarded senstive intelligence to his Iranian allies.
I wonder about the timing. Who wanted Olmert to be in a mess with all the dignitaries arriving for the 60th anniversary of Israel's statehood?
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