Olmert suspected of accepting illicit funds from U.S. businessman
By Haaretz Service and News Agencies Last update - 23:29 08/05/2008
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/981744.html

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is suspected of illicitly receiving hundreds of
thousands of dollars from an American businessman before assuming his
position, according to the details of an investigation currently being
carried out against him.

Judicial officials decided on Thursday to request an ease on the sweeping
media gag order that has prevented the reporting of details on the probe.

Following the officials' decision, police petitioned the Tel Aviv
Magistrates Court immediately to lift the gag order. Shortly after, the
request was approved.

Channel 10 TV reported that the American in question, Morris Talansky, was a
middleman for illegal campaign contributions, and that he readily told
Israeli interrogators everything he knew about the case.

The contributions were allegedly made while Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem,
before he became prime minister. Channel 2 TV reported that police do not
know what the money was used for.

Olmert convened a late-night news conference at short notice on Thursday as
speculation swirled that the police investigation into his affairs would
increase pressure on him to resign.

An aide said Olmert would speak to journalists at his Jerusalem residence
some time after 10 P.M. as most Israelis were still celebrating Independence
Day and the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the state.

Even before the gag order was loosened, Olmert's opponents were calling on
him to resign. Olmert is the target of several other investigations, but he
has never been charged or convicted. He denies any wrongdoing.

The attorney general, State Prosecution officials and police investigators
met Thursday to discuss what aspects of the gag order, placed last week on
all details surrounding the case, could be relaxed.

On Tuesday, police said that leaks coming from the foreign media regarding
the investigation "undermined" the gag order on the case and rendered it
"losing its significance."

The New York Post on Tuesday revealed details on the probe on its Web site,
including the name of a foreign national summoned by police for questioning,
but these details are banned in Israel.

The Jerusalem Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning rejected a petition by
Haaretz and Channel 10 television to lift the gag order on the details of
the criminal investigation into Olmert.

The gag order prohibits the publication of details of the probe, over which
Olmert was questioned under caution last Friday. Justice Daniel Beeri ruled
that the order would remain in effect until it expires on Sunday.

Attorney Mibi Mozer, on behalf of Haaretz, told the court that the gag order
creates an imbalance between the necessity to refrain from perverting the
course of justice, and the public interest to be informed of the nature of
the allegations against the prime minister.