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Livni, Barak advisers could be big winners in coalition talks By Guy Leshem Tags: Tzipi Livni, Ehud Barak  Do the people involved in the Kadima-Labor coalition talks have a conflict of interest? The question arises from the composition of the negotiating teams that the two parties set up a few days ago. Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni is being represented in the talks by attorneys Yoram Raved and Israel Maimon, while Labor chair Ehud Barak is being represented by former MK Effi Oshaya and attorney Alon Gellert. All four are confidants of their respective political patrons and have been given considerable discretion in the negotiations. But it turns out that all four also have private business interests that could be furthered by the decisions made in these talks. Oshaya, in addition to his membership on Labor's central committee, is chairman of the board of the party's educational institute, Beit Berl, and of its Katznelson Foundation, which together control hundreds of dunams of expensive land near Kfar Sava. In addition, he is the co-CEO of Policy, a lobbying firm that represents public and private bodies before Knesset committees and government ministries. While Oshaya himself does not go to the Knesset as a lobbyist, his employees represent major companies and organizations such as Tnuva, Strauss-Elite, the Association of Banks, the Association of Insurance Companies, the Central Bottling Company, the Channel 2 television franchisees, Bank Hapoalim and others. All are bodies for whom the right decision by a given Knesset committee or ministry can be worth millions. Advertisement Gellert, who served as legal advisor in the Prime Minister's Office under both Barak and Ariel Sharon, is now a partner in the country's second-largest law firm, which represents dozens of Israel's largest companies. Raved, a former senior member of the "ranch forum" that advised Sharon when he was premier, is also a senior partner in a major law firm. The firm's clients include such leading businessmen as Moti Zisser, Dori and Gadi Dankner, the Gindi family and real estate magnate Roni Yitzhaki, as well as major companies such as Bank Hapoalim and the Adler-Chomsky public relations agency. In an interview with TheMarker two months ago, Raved said that he never uses his political ties to benefit his clients, and that his involvement in politics stemmed purely from "altruistic motives." Nevertheless, he admitted, "we aren't naive, and we understand that because we were identified as a firm with ties to Sharon, we had a certain advantage." Maimon, who served as cabinet secretary until two years ago, set up his own law firm after leaving that post. He has refused to release a list of his firm's clients, but has acknowledged serving on Channel 10's legal team. The channel is currently engaged in a major campaign to get the government to extend its franchise, a decision that will be made by the Communications Ministry, the Second Channel Authority, the Finance Ministry and the Knesset Economics Committee - all bodies that will be influenced by the composition of Livni's coalition. Bookmark to del.icio.us   A man of peace Vatican defends wartime pope Pius XII against charge he turned blind eye to Holocaust. Feminine features An Iranian motor company unveils plans to design cars specifically tailored to women.   1.   What about the people of Israel 09:57  |  Yossi Ashkenazi 06/10/08   2.   the people in the kadima talks are of conflict of interest;just 15:31  |  glenna 06/10/08   3.   A W A K E U P C A L L 16:07  |  H.H.M. 06/10/08   4.   Coalition talks 18:39  |  Otto Rand 10/10/08

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