Prime Minister Olmert On Trial In Israel

Jerusalem – Morris Talansky’s cross-examination continued yesterday in the Jerusalem District Court, entering its third day. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s defense attorneys continued trying to undermine the witness’ credibility, pointing at discrepancies between his testimony in court and his statements to the police. Mr. Talansky, however, continued to insist that he had delivered cash to Mr. Olmert, an assertion denied by the prime minister.

Israeli police sources say their investigators in the U.S. have produced more evidence the prime minister allegedly received bribes from Mr. Talansky. They suspect that Mr. Olmert, when he was trade and industry minister, helped Mr. Talansky to market mini-bars to hotels. The investigators gathered evidence they say shows that Mr. Olmert did not confine himself to sending official letters to tycoons, but he also spoke with businessmen.

One of the aides of Israeli business magnate Yitzhak Tshuva testified that Mr. Tshuva would not have met Mr. Talansky had Mr. Olmert had not requested it. However, that meeting did not lead to a deal. The police investigations in the U.S. also strengthened the suspicions against the prime minister with regard to accusations he allegedly double-financed airline tickets.

Talansky: Let Mr. Olmert Look Me In The Eye And Say He Didn’t Receive Money

“Let Olmert look me in the eye and tell me that he didn’t receive money,” Mr. Talansky said.

He told the media in the courtroom corridor that he “said exactly what took place.” Mr. Talansky pledged Mr. Olmert’s attorneys’ efforts to break him would not succeed. They are trying to break me, but they won’t succeed. I regret that this is the way Olmert’s people treat a person who for years only looked out for Olmert.”

Mr. Talansky declared again yesterday in his testimony, “I gave Olmert money in cash and that is the main story. I may be wrong about details such as times and amounts.” In that context, Mr. Olmert’s defense attorneys made an effort to undermine his credibility. Alleged contradictions arose between his testimony in court and his testimony to the police, which refer to amounts of money and their dates of delivery. However, these contradictions pertain to meetings held many years ago or amounts given to Mr. Olmert at the time.

In principle, in all the testimonies, Mr. Talansky confirmed that he gave Mr. Olmert cash, while Mr. Olmert denies these allegations.

Mr. Talansky has repeatedly defended his prior testimony saying, “The atmosphere in the questioning was pressured and tense, and it affected me.” During the testimony, Mr. Olmert’s defense attorneys Eli Zohar, Navot Tel-Tzur, Roi Belcher and Hadas Berkowitz presented selected footage taken during his police questioning. This consists of segments chosen selectively by the defense, some of which start in mid-sentence. In these segments, Mr. Talansky could be seen arguing with the investigators, saying to them, “I am cooperating with you, but don’t put incorrect words in my mouth.”

The defense argues the police “fed” versions to Mr. Talansky.

However, in certain parts of the questioning, an investigator Chief Supt. Iris Barak says to Mr. Talansky: “You are contradicting yourself, your versions don’t make sense.” In addition, Mr. Talansky confirmed reports that Mr. Olmert’s aide Shula Zaken had received an alleged money transfer for Mr. Olmert in the amount of $72,500.

The defense attorneys claimed success in undermining the witness’ credibility, but it should be noted that the cash envelopes’ affair was not reliant on Mr. Talansky’s testimony. Instead, it rested mostly on incriminating testimony that had been made by attorney Uri Messer, the prime minister’s close friend as well as records of money transfers from Mr. Talansky to Messrs. Olmert and Messer, which were documented by Mr. Zaken on the bureau’s computer.

David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com. His Web site is www.IsraelBehindTheNews.com

©The Bulletin 2008