Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., July 21, 2008 Tamuz 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:13 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

PM's defense: 'It's becoming clear that Talansky is a pathological liar' By Barak Ravid Sources close to the prime minister said they were satisfied with the outcome of the cross-examination of Morris Talansky on Thursday and Friday by Ehud Olmert's legal team. "It's becoming clear that Talansky's a pathological liar," one associate said about the American millionaire from whom police believe Olmert accepted bribes. The associate added that Talansky, who is scheduled to be cross-examined again today, demonstrated that "the people who instructed Talansky ahead of the cross-examination planted his answers for him." Advertisement Olmert's associates complained about the State Prosecutor's attempts to convince the Jerusalem District Court to allow Talansky to return to the U.S. and put the cross examination on hold until October. "Now that we are seeing that everything he is saying is complete fantasy, he wants to bolt, and the State Prosecutor's Office is helping him do just that," one associate said. Talansky was quizzed about contributions he had passed on to Olmert during his Jerusalem mayoral campaigns in 1993 and 1998. "So far we have only laid the trap for Talansky," one source said. "In the next few days, he will fall into it." On Friday, Talansky, the prosecution's key witness in the graft investigation against Olmert, told the court he did not have the energy to withstand the questioning past Sunday. Talansky added that the months-long process has been taxing and has hurt his business and family affairs. Olmert has so far refrained from commenting on the core issues of the case, after Attorney General Menachem Mazuz demanded that he submit in advance any reference to the case for Mazuz's approval. Olmert rejected the stipulation. "He wants to talk, but he is prevented because of the claim that he would be interfering with the investigation," an Olmert associate said. "It is very important for the prime minister to present his case to the public." The sources said that Olmert plans to reexamine the possibility of commenting on the affair once Talansky's cross examination is over. Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Icon of evil' Hitler icons take center stage at Jerusalem students' end-of-year art show. Caught on film Human rights group releases video of IDF soldier shooting Palestinian at short range.

Read & React Ahmadinejad's deputy: Iran is a friend of Israel, is not interested in war Responses: 139 OPINION: Essential things Israelis and Iranians should know about each other Responses: 116 Uzi Beniziman: Iranian bomb threatens the world more than it does Tel Aviv Responses: 45 VIDEO: Troops shoot bound Palestinian at short range Responses: 77 Emmanuel Sivan: Israel's negotiator exploited Nasrallah's weaknesses Responses: 38 More Headlines 23:28 Barak: Israel will do all it can to bring Shalit home 23:27 MI chief: Hezbollah may try to attack north soon 22:43 VIDEO: IDF soldier shoots bound Palestinian at short range 23:36 'I was attacked because I'm Arab' 21:13 Hitler icons take center stage at Jerusalem students' end-of-year art show 13:44 Model Zionist: Bar Refaeli poses for Jewish swimsuit calendar 20:11 Holding photo of Gilad Shalit, Betancourt urges 'freedom for everyone' 00:39 VIDEO / Olmert's lawyer: Police pressure shaped Talansky testimony 22:23 Brown: U.K. a true friend of Israel, will work toward terror-free future 16:23 Ahmadinejad's deputy: Iran is a friend of Israel 00:22 U.S. Jews honor Polish Holocaust rescuers at Warsaw gathering 21:22 Israel taps Professor Gabriela Shalev as new UN ambassador Previous Editions Select Day 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul

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 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