Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., July 13, 2008 Tamuz 10, 5768 | | Israel Time: 20:54 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Shula Zaken, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's former chief of staff (Nir Keidar) Last update - 09:08 12/07/2008 Olmert, Zaken, and Rishon Tours: A case of deja vu By Uri Blau, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Aliza Olmert, Likud  The latest allegations involving Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, his former chief of staff Shula Zaken, and their association with Rishon Tours travel agency may seem like a case of deja vu. As far back as 1991, police investigated allegations that one or more third parties financed a trip overseas taken by the Olmert family and arranged through Rishon Tours. That probe, however, failed to produce enough evidence to warrant an indictment. Like the current investigation, the previous one was handled by the police's national fraud unit. And, also like the current investigation, Olmert and Zaken were themselves questioned over the affair. Advertisement The 1991 probe was an addendum to the Likud "fictitious invoice" affair that surfaced in 1989. Olmert was put on trial for his role in the case, however he was subsequently acquitted. According to the investigation, in November 1988, Olmert's wife, Aliza, and their daughter Michal flew to New York to attend an art exhibit featuring one of Mrs. Olmert's works. The cost of the plane ticket was $4,078 , and it was purchased through Rishon Tours. Investigators probed whether the ticket was paid for with cash that was donated to the Likud election campaign in 1988, the year Olmert served as the party's treasurer. Police discovered that Zaken acted on Olmert's behalf in his dealings with the travel agency, handling all matters related to private trips taken by Olmert and his family. In June 1991, police asked Zaken why she deals with Rishon Tours. "This is a company I'm used to working with for many years now, going back to when the minister [Olmert] had a private law practice," Zaken told police then. "The office provides great service... We've been with them for at least seven years." "The minister travels abroad often and as part of his job he travels on behalf of a number of organizations, including United Israel Appeal, as well as his ministry," Zaken added. She said that whenever Olmert or his family travel privately, she pays for it with a personal check from Olmert. Though she recalled Aliza Olmert taking a trip to New York with her daughter, "I don't know of any payment in cash and [if there was such a thing] it was certainly not done by me." At the conclusion of the questioning, Zaken said she believed payment for the trip at the expense of Likud coffers was the result of an error by the travel agency. During that period, police also questioned Jeni Wergen, an assistant to the chief executive officer of Rishon Tours, as well as Emanuel Baumelshpiner, the agent who handled most of Olmert's trips. "Usually, I would ask Shula who paid for this trip and that trip and who I should send the invoice to," Baumelshpiner told police then. Olmert, who was then mayor of Jerusalem, was questioned on the matter in his office by Zakaria Banai, the police official who was then head of the national fraud unit. When Olmert was asked if the Likud financed his wife's and daughter's trip to New York, he replied: "I'm amazed by the question. I've never handled the technical aspects of paying for my trips. The one who always does that is my assistant, Shula Zaken. I've never asked that Likud funds be used to pay for my private trips or for trips taken by my family." "It could very well be that the sum that was paid for other trips was erroneously attributed to my wife's and daughter's trip," Olmert said. "It boggles the mind" how a private family trip could have been financed by the Likud, Olmert said. The investigation, unlike the fictitious receipts probe, was closed on the orders of then attorney general Michael Ben Yair, who ruled that the case "does not contain enough evidence and thus it is decided not to issue an indictment." Related articles: ANALYSIS / Olmert won't be able to recover from this interrogation Olmert's lawyers: We'll need to extend Talansky cross-examination Who will run the country? Bookmark to del.icio.us   Smoking kills Tehran slams McCain for saying cigarettes could be used to kill Iranians. Case of deja vu Olmert and his office chief Shula Zaken were accused of similar charges back in 1991.   1.   The beginning of a beautiful friendship? 20:43  |  Yonatan 11/07/08   2.   The best leaders money can buy 09:49  |  Bruno 12/07/08   3.   To Yonatan # - Only with his EYES CLOSED 14:24  |  Dolly 12/07/08   4.   Is Rishon Tours his only Familia Tours ? 14:07  |  Nora 13/07/08   5.   so what`s new 16:08  |  maxie 13/07/08

Read & React Tehran slams McCain for saying cigarettes could be used to kill Iranians Responses: 89 Report: U.S. official says Israel has 'amber light' for Iran strike Responses: 146 Yossi Verter: However we look at 'Olmert Tours' affair, woe to us Responses: 41 Muslim charities targeted by Israel do more than fund terror Responses: 43 Zvi Bar'el: France is a friend of the Arabs because U.S. is a friend of Israel Responses: 29 Rosner's Domain U.S. pressures Israel: No bombing of Iran (WTR) Did Mossad chief Meir Dagan pay a visit to the White House? (WTR) On Iraq, Obama draws to the ground of reality Poll: The more religious the Jewish voter, the more pro-McCain More Headlines 19:52 Ron Arad's family gets previously unseen photos of missing IAF navigator 19:18 Olmert vows to free Palestinian prisoners regardless of swap deals 19:44 Livni: I didn't need Rishon Tours affair to make up my mind about Olmert 13:58 ANALYSIS / The latest allegations, what now? 20:50 PM aide: Israel has no intention of giving Hebzollah Shaba 13:26 Report: Pentagon official says Israel has 'amber light' for Iran strike 17:02 Jewish leaders in Germany slam Holocaust omission from citizenship test 15:11 Settler arrested in failed rocket attack on Palestinian town 20:21 Israeli lifeguard stumbles upon ancient relic during morning swim 19:16 Gaza militants fire 2 mortar shells at Israel in further truce violation 10:00 U.S. presidential hopefuls use Hebrew to woo Jewish voters 12:28 'Murderer! You're a disgrace to the religion,' slain lawyer's mom tells alleged killer 16:25 Prosecution: We won't show evidence to Olmert's lawyers before Talansky questioning 17:35 Hamas chief Meshal calls for Palestinian reconciliation Previous Editions Select Day 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Dan Hotels Israel Live the Legend & experience an Unforgettable Summer Vacation Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury Right In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved