Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., August 17, 2008 Av 16, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:45 (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

ANALYSIS / Talansky's absence won't save Olmert from indictment By Amir Oren, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Ehud Olmert, corruption  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert did not want to declare himself incapacitated, so as not to give Vice Prime Minister Tzipi Livni an advantage. Attorney General Menachem Mazuz did not want to declare Olmert incapacitated, so as not to set a dangerous precedent for the next attorney general and prime minister. But yesterday, someone finally stood up and dared to declare himself incapacitated: Morris Talansky. Talansky's story has been told in English, but Olmert's, the more important one, will be told in Hebrew. In Olmert's tale, the plot runs in a predetermined direction, even if the order of the chapters changes. Thus even if Talansky gives no further testimony in Jerusalem, it will not save Olmert from being indicted. The police promised the prosecution that the first batch of evidence against Olmert would be presented in early September. About two weeks after that, Mazuz and State Prosecutor Moshe Lador will decide whether to indict Olmert. If the police hurry, the draft indictment could be ready before Rosh Hashanah, and before the Kadima primary. If they tarry, the indictment will be postponed a little, until after the High Holidays. Advertisement The only question still open is the indictment's contents. The material on Mazuz and Lador's desks indicates that it will consist of at least two cases - Olmert's alleged double-billing for airline tickets and alleged influence-peddling in the Investments Center. If the Olmert-Talansky investigation is completed even without Talansky being cross-examined again, that will be the indictment's third section. If not, it will be presented later, alone or with one of the other cases still in the pipeline - political appointments in the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry, the sale of Bank Leumi, and the house on Cremieux Street. Olmert still faces serious suspicions of bribery, about which he was questioned under caution last week in addition to suspicions of fraud and breach of trust. But prosecutors will not charge Olmert with bribery alone, for fear of an acquittal that would bring down the entire case. If he is so charged, it will be tacked on to other charges. Talansky was careful during his testimony in Israel not to incriminate himself -or Olmert -of having given or taken bribes. But he has already admitted that he has not always told nothing but the truth, and certainly not the whole truth. He is hiding a "black box," like the one Mazuz's predecessor, Elyakim Rubinstein, suspected in the investigation against Benjamin Netanyahu in the Hebron-Bar-On affair. Talansky's is a Pandora's box, which he will not open for fear of being harmed. Talansky has two attorneys in New York. One of them, Neal Sher, was a Nazi-hunter in the U.S. Justice Department and later director of AIPAC. He has been friendly with Talansky since the days when both were aiding Shaare Zedek Medical Center. Yesterday, as Talansky's announcement was making waves in Israel, Sher said he could not comment - he was driving to Toronto. But the more serious attorney is Bradley Simon, a former federal prosecutor in New York, whom Talansky hired to deal with the American investigation against him. "Talansky wants to continue cooperating with the Israeli authorities," Simon told Haaretz yesterday. "But without immunity, he could incriminate himself in the United States. So we've advised him not to continue testifying at this stage." American suspects do not appear before the grand jury that examines the prosecution's evidence and decides whether there is reason to press charges. But Talansky's silence in New York will not help him if his testimony in Jerusalem provides FBI detectives with clues to follow up. Talansky's attorneys will not say so explicitly, but he expects the Israeli Justice Ministry to arrange comprehensive immunity for him in America. That, however, is extremely complicated, and Talansky might first have to reveal more - which would not be good news for Olmert. Another possibility is that Talansky, still a suspect in Israel, could become a defendant, with Israel seeking his extradition from the U.S. This sub-plot is far from over. But even without it, Olmert's plot line is moving to center stage. Related articles: VIDEO: What Talansky said about Olmert in his testimony Talansky to Haaretz: Olmert most astute politician I've met Talansky: Olmert's lawyers won't break me in cross-questioning Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Material girl' turns 50 Pop icon and kabbalah enthusiast Madonna celebrates her 50th birthday. Barak vs. The Treasury Defense Minister says budget cuts foolish in light of the threats Israel facing.   1.   IT WOULD BE WORTH IT IF MERT WAS OFFERED A DEAL:STAY AND BE 06:47  |  glenna 15/08/08   2.   #1 - Shapira quit because Olmert wouldn`t go for a plea bargain! 08:28  |  redmike 15/08/08

Read & React Nasrallah: 'Failed' IDF generals caused Georgia defeat in war Responses: 239 Brenda Shaffer: By not aiding Georgia, Israel harming efforts on Iran Responses: 90 Police admit 'turning blind eye' to settler violence Responses: 81 Marwan Muasher: The Arab Peace Initiative still stands Responses: 146 Russia signs cease-fire agreement with Georgia Responses: 98 More Headlines 00:59 Georgia: Russian-backed separatists seize villages, power plant 23:00 Head of World Congress of Russian Jewry accuses Georgia of genocide 19:24 Barak slams push to cut defense budget for 2009 11:25 IN DEPTH / The Russian empire strikes back 22:50 'We are running out of time for a two-state solution' 14:23 Israeli envoy meets UNIFIL chief over praise for Hezbollah, censure for Israel 11:36 Jewish World / Looking for love on Israeli Valentine's Day 08:14 Haaretz newsletter: All the news from Israel direct to your inbox 00:15 Palestinian PM meets Barak in T.A., demands Israel halt construction in West Bank 19:54 Lebanon expects full diplomatic ties with Syria within 2 months 17:18 Two children, aged 9 and 14, drown off Israel's shore Friday 22:46 Pop star, icon, and Kabbala aficionado Madonna turns 50 17:52 British military helicopter makes emergency landing in Israel Previous Editions Select Day 15 aug 14 aug 13 aug 12 aug 11 aug 10 aug 08 aug 07 aug 06 aug 05 aug 04 aug 03 aug

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Isaac Maimon at Dreamshoppe Special summer sale. Make an offer now. You will be surprised. MBA in Israel in English APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat 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