By ANDY SOLTIS, NY POST, May 28, 2008
CRIME MINISTER Bribes, spy satellite, referrals billionare businessmen, loans for lavish lifestyle
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UNHAPPY TASK: Morris Talansky (right) is wired with a mike before his testimony in Jerusalem.
A tearful Long Island businessman testified that he heaped cash-filled envelopes on Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for four-star hotels, first-class flights, expensive cigars and a luxury family vacation. Morris Talansky said he passed at least $150,000 to Olmert over 15 years because he thought Olmert was the future of Israeli politics. "I really loved that man," Talansky, 75, told a Jerusalem court. He said he gave Olmert campaign donations he raised in New York and from his own funds, as well as "loans" for luxuries that were never repaid.
They included a vacation in Italy for the Olmert family, costing up to $30,000, and $4,700 for a three-day stay at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington. Talansky paid the hotel bill after Olmert called him "to say his own credit card was maxed out." The witness said there are no records of how some of the money was spent. "I only know that he loved expensive cigars. I know he loved pens, watches. I found it strange," Talansky told the court with a shrug.
He said he trusted Olmert, "a very close friend," and continued to supply him with campaign cash even after Olmert "shocked" him by asking for $72,500 in 2005. But Olmert never had any contact with him after becoming prime minister in 2006 - and after Talansky asked him to pay back the loans, he said. Talansky's deposition will be the key to a possible indictment of Olmert, who has vowed to step down if formally charged. Olmert's lawyer said Talansky's testimony would be shown to be "twisted" when the witness is cross-examined on July 17.
The businessman was tearful as he spoke of his need to get back to Woodmere, LI, before then to take care of his ailing wife. Yesterday, he told the court that he became entranced by Olmert when they first met in 1991, and he agreed when Olmert asked him to raise money for his campaigns for mayor of Jerusalem and for various party posts.
Olmert told him to send cash, not checks, because of fund-raising rules. "Cash disturbed me," Talansky said. "I couldn't understand it, and I accepted the answer simply because I saw something bigger, hopefully, out there."
He insisted he never sought favors in return. But Olmert offered to put him in touch with Jewish billionaires to help his businesses. Yet when Talansky called one of the men, casino king Sheldon Adelson, about installing Talansky's minibars in his hotels, Adelson slammed down the phone, he said.
During his long day on the witness stand, Talansky repeatedly praised Olmert, whom he portrayed as a brilliant defender of Israel. "That's why I overlooked, frankly and honestly, a lot of things," he said.
But he gradually became disillusioned. He said on one occasion, when Olmert stayed at the Regency Hotel in New York, he asked for a $15,000 loan and refused to accept Talansky's check. Talansky said he walked four blocks to a bank to withdraw the money, then gave it to Olmert - with a request to be quickly repaid. "Famous last words," he said wistfully. With Post Wire Services
SOURCE http://www.nypost.com/seven/05282008/news/regionalnews/i_lavihed_olmert_out_of_love_112845.htmhttp://www.nypost.com/seven/05282008/news/regionalnews/i_lavihed_olmert_out_of_love_112845.htm
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FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY
Various addresses and organizations used by Talansky to donate to US politicians including Clinton and Giuliani:
Morris Talansky, Executive Director for Jerusalem-based Share Zedek Medical Center, 2373 Broadway, Apt Ph3, NY 10024
Morris Talansky, 49 W 45th St NY 10036, Share Zedek and Niche Company
Morris Talansky, 1220 Sage Street, Far Rockaway, BY 11691
Morris Talansky, 20 Longfellow Road, Great Neck, NY 11023
Morris Talansky (residence), 103 Wood Lane South, Woodsburgh, NY 11598
Morris Talansky, CEO, Global Resources Group (financial firm), 103 Wood Lane South, Woodsburgh, NY 11598
SOURCE http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?last=Talansky&first=Morris
FOR REFERENCE Morris Talansky, Woodsburgh, NY, is best known as the American-based fund-raiser for the American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center located in Jerusalem. The American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center took in $20 million in 2002, according to available tax returns. Paul Glasser, the national executive director for Shaare Zedek Medical Center’s American organization, lied to US officials when he said Mr. Talansky had not worked for the organization since 1997.
2004 tax return shows that Morris Talansky earned $90,000 from the organization that year, for his work in pulling in more than $14 million from outside sources.
Tax records also show that Morris Talansky served as treasurer for the American branch of the tax-exempt New Jerusalem Foundation, a charity that listed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as president. The New Jerusalem Foundation’s American branch received a US tax exemption in 1999, when Olmert was in his sixth year as mayor of Jerusalem. According to recent tax returns of the American branch of the New Jerusalem Foundation, it raised $376,000 in 2000 and $76, 000 in 2005.
Olmert and Talansky are sole officers controlling The New Jerusalem Foundation. US tax reports for the New Jerusalem Foundation in 2000 show it was registered to a post office box in Manchester, NH, and reportedly then-had a $390,000 budget.
Foundation Treasurer Talansky once operated the so-called charity out of two of his New York residences for a number of years. Talansky is a fugitive----and has been in Jerusalem since April 2008.....
FOR YOUR REFERENCE
The New Jerusalem Foundation
Morris Talansky, Treasurer
Ehud Olmert, President
420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1645
New York, NY 10170
Phone: 212-697-4188
Israeli offices
Zvi Raviv Director General 1999-2007
The New Jerusalem Foundation
4 Koresh St. PO Box 775
Jerusalem 91007
Tel: 972-2-6232227
Fax: 972-2-6232390
Email: thenjf@jerusalem.muni.il
Website: www.thenjf.org