Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., May 05, 2008 Nisan 30, 5768 | | Israel Time: 15:22 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 09:01 05/05/2008
Olmert used PMO to further wife's art career
By Na'ama Lanski and Gidi Weitz
Tags: Aliza Olmert, Ehud Olmert

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert used his bureau to promote the artistic career of his wife Aliza, a Haaretz report reveals. The report also says that when the couple were in New York for a private art exhibit by Olmert, their stay at a luxury hotel was paid for by an American association.

In the summer of 2005, Olmert presented an exhibition in New York to which dozens of wealthy and influential people were invited. The invitations were allegedly issued by Rachael Risby Raz, the foreign affairs advisor in Olmert's bureau when he was minister of industry, trade and labor. Invitations for a dinner were printed on official ministry stationary.

The Olmerts stayed at the exclusive Peninsula Hotel in a $2,500-a-night suite, for only $500 a night on the say-so of the hotel chain's Jewish billionaire owner Michael Kadoorie. A pro-Israel group headed by a former Likud activist, Sharon Tzur, paid for the room.
Advertisement
The Prime Minister's Office responded that Risby Raz was a personal appointment and could therefore assist Olmert in matters unconnected to the ministry. The PMO also said the invitations to the exhibit were issued by the museum, not by Risby Raz. Olmert's bureau conceded that 10 invitations were issued on official paper, and regretted this error. The PMO said Tzur's group paid for his accommodations because he was asked to meet with various public figures.

Related articles:
  • ANALYSIS / Is this where it all ends for Ehud Olmert?
  • Olmert: I'll keep doing my job despite malicious rumors
  • Police in Olmert case quiz ex-bureau chief for second time
  • Olmert attempts to project 'business as usual' amid new investigation
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Under probe
    Olmert stays focused on work despite new allegations.
    Taxi Hamas
    Hamas police cars serve as taxis in fuel-starved Gaza.
      1.   Who cares? 04:44  |  Ephraim 05/05/08
      2.   and Haaretz had the gal to blame Bibi for London stay 04:45  |  Genuine Tosefta 05/05/08
      3.   An old Israeli trick: Change PM to restart negotiations from zero 04:47  |  Aounist 05/05/08
      4.   God,this whole bloody family is rotten 06:28  |  Boris 05/05/08
      5.   #3 Aounist - Is your needle stuck? 07:02  |  * BEN JABO 05/05/08
      6.   Ehud Maecenas Olmert 07:31  |  MR 05/05/08
      7.   Old scam: buy wife to pass money to husband 08:09  |  Ilan 05/05/08
      8.   Who Cares? 08:18  |  Shtarka 05/05/08
      9.   The Pot calling the Kettle Black...... Let Israel LIVE! 08:23  |  Natasha 05/05/08
      10.   #1 - the same could be said about you statement! 08:48  |  redmike 05/05/08
      11.   #3 - the "negotiations" never got past zero. 08:50  |  redmike 05/05/08
      12.   What about the cash handed over. 09:03  |  Tal 05/05/08
      13.   This is smoke to cloud the real graft. 09:04  |  Zev 05/05/08
      14.   Bad artist, bad politician...perfect match!!!! 09:05  |  Richard 05/05/08
      15.   Canine behaviour... 09:05  |  Esther 05/05/08
      16.   Almost all lsraeli higher ups are becoming more and more corrupt 09:05  |  S 05/05/08
      17.   ISRAEL IS FALLING APART 09:41  |  indrajaya 05/05/08
      18.   Aliza`s art for only $150,000 10:12  |  Gabby Hays 05/05/08
      19.   On upgrades vs bribes 11:02  |  Shlomo 05/05/08
      20.   She`s better than his Yordim kids! 11:27  |  Kahanov Daf Yomi 05/05/08
      21.   #17 - I`d say the opposite. Israel is getting rid of the garbage! 11:39  |  redmike 05/05/08
      22.   overpriced art was bribe to P.M. 11:40  |  Tal 05/05/08
      23.   #15 speaking from personal experience 12:04  |  Ilan 05/05/08
      24.   PM Olmert and Aliza 12:23  |  Ricardo Kolbe 05/05/08
      25.   To #1 and #8 12:41  |  JordanisPalestine 05/05/08
      26.   As much as I dislike Olmert the whole thing is a petitesse 14:04  |  Absolute Sweden 05/05/08
      27.   To Absolute Sweden 26 - Israel`s Surrender to the Palestinians 14:38  |  charlie 05/05/08
      28.   An Arab/American Conspiracy,,,,,? 14:51  |  Dolly 05/05/08
      29.   #17 even RECENT history the IGNORANT INDO gets wrong 15:12  |  Joe Moer 05/05/08
     Read & React
    Akiva Eldar: It's time for Tzipi Livni as PM, rather than Netanyahu
    Responses: 34
    Maoz: Ultra-Orthodox make Judaism repulsive to Jews
    Responses: 45
    Harel & Issacharoff: Hamas may also lose from PM's legal woes
    Responses: 25
    Documents reveal U.K. tried to ship Holocaust survivors back to Germany
    Responses: 70
    Rosner's Domain
    The Democrats are fighting over Iran
    Poll: If Olmert is gone, who should be PM?
    Dangerously underestimating Syria and Iran (WTR)
    Carter is helping Hamas achieve their strategic goal
    Helping McCain win over Jewish voters (WTR)


    More Headlines
    14:38 Peres: I'm not in favor of a military strike on Iran
    14:10 Sources: PM probe clear-cut; decision on indictment in days
    15:13 Police storm Warsaw hotel room, free three captive Jewish teens
    13:18 Two people hurt as 7 rockets slam into western Negev
    10:33 Iran: We won't abandon nuclear aims for Western incentives
    11:20 16 Israeli civilians killed this year in terror acts, 1,634 since May, '48
    08:53 Documents: U.K. tried to ship Holocaust survivors back to Germany
    14:51 Arad's brother: The state could have done more to free Ron
    14:40 Arab states mull emergency fund to fight food inflation
    13:52 Court sentences two men to 9 years in prison for robbing elderly woman
    10:17 1948 diaries: Saving the Jews from themselves
    08:37 Rumblings of dissatisfaction
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Dead Sea Products
    Buy Dead Sea mineral skin care and beauty products. Coupon code Haaretz for 10% off.
    Pardes Institute Summer Sessions
    http://www.pardes.org.il/
    FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film
    The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer
    The interest rates haven't changed
    But your profits will!
    Learn Hebrew online
    with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today
    Free the Palestinians from:
    Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    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
    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