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Seven days in July By Yossi Verter Tags: Israel, Ehud Olmert  This weekend will be spent against the backdrop of Morris Talansky's cross-examination in the so-called envelopes affair. Last weekend, we had to swallow Ehud Olmert's double-billing scandal. In between, the prime minister chased after Syrian President Bashir Assad in Paris, acquired a new minister in his government at an exorbitant price, endured a vote on a no-confidence motion which was seconded by Labor Party ministers, and brought home the bodies of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. Just another week at work. Olmert realizes that the cross-examination of Talansky, the American-Jewish businessman who is the main witness in this investigation, will not substantially change his legal situation. But if, ultimately, the public conviction issued after the previous testimony is softened somewhat, the prime minister might have a bit of breathing room. At one point in his tenure, it was said that Olmert was a magician. His coalition was stable, world leaders were coming here in a rare show of solidarity and support, the polls started to brighten his prospects, and the plan to run again for the Kadima leadership did not seem far-fetched. But then came Talansky and the double-billing scandal and there was nothing more to say. Advertisement When the magic touch disappears, everything looks bad. The fact that Assad turned his back on Olmert on the dais in Paris was just about as bad as the way Tzipi Livni turned her back and refused even to be photographed together with Olmert - and further, to avoid being on the same plane with him, chose to catch a commercial flight home with her entourage a few hours earlier, despite the cost. At the same time, in the Knesset, Olmert finally succeeded after many long months in pushing through the appointment of Eli Aflalo as minister of absorption - a surprising, superfluous and unnecessary development. Then came the prisoner-exchange deal, two years after the soldiers were abducted. Most of the public supported the deal, but if the prime minister hoped to gain a few points from it, that will not and cannot happen. Nine years ago, when Olmert ran in the primaries for the Likud leadership, he called a press conference. Asked about Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud leader and prime minister who had lost the elections and resigned, the then mayor of Jerusalem declared: "The era of magic is over." It was a polished statement that made headlines. Today, the tables have turned. Netanyahu is in the starting position to win the premiership, while Olmert is waving his magic wand and finding that it is useless. Bookmark to del.icio.us   The bigger apple Study shows Tel Aviv is more expensive to live in than New York. When bedbugs bite After 40 years' absence, Israel braces for return of the bedbug.   1.   Olmert has a Wunderwaffe,the AG Mazuz who`d 13:51  |  Absolute Sweden 18/07/08   2.   and what evidenceis there... 16:40  |  avramele 18/07/08   3.   Kick Olmert out!! 17:17  |  Mendel 18/07/08   4.   Kick Olmert OUT .. I could not agree more. 20:45  |  Walter H. Steinlauf 18/07/08

Read & React Sen. Joe Lieberman praises pastor who said Holocaust was God's work Responses: 126 Obama tells Haaretz: Two states for two peoples Responses: 149 Ashkenazi in U.S.: All options are on the table regarding Iran Responses: 78 Editorial: We need a U.S. leader unfettered by the Israel lobby Responses: 78 Israel Harel: Shalit must be made a burden for Hamas, rather than an asset Responses: 26 More Headlines 00:21 Obama to PM: Talks with Iran necessary to legitimize action 00:20 AG: Olmert obstructing graft probes against him 22:27 Settler holds knife to IDF soldier's throat in West Bank riot 00:47 Tali Fahima: Zakariya Zubeidi is Israeli security service's whore 23:56 Terror victims' relatives file NIS 450m suit against PA, Barghouti 22:51 Cancer research center warns: Stay away from cell phones 15:36 Jewish World/Unwilling flag wavers? 21:19 MKs okay new West Bank homes, despite vow to freeze settlements 23:45 Arab bloc rescinds proposal to have UN vote against Israeli settlements 22:51 Egyptian Facebook activists jailed for threatening national security 14:41 Study: Tel Aviv more expensive to live in than New York 09:31 Ashkenazi in U.S.: All options are on the table regarding Iran 23:59 VIDEO / Another delay in Katsav sex crimes indictment as case transferred 19:10 Pop singer Aviv Gefen pens new ballad calling to free Shalit Previous Editions Select Day 24 jul 23 jul 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul

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