Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., May 13, 2008 Iyyar 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:14 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Bonds between PM, cronies begin to crack By Jonathan Lis One thing police investigators hope to accomplish in their investigation of the Ehud Olmert-Morris Talansky affair is to break the long-standing bonds of loyalty between the prime minister, attorney Uri Messer and Olmert's former office manager, Shula Zaken. The rifts in the three-way relationship are already apparent: Olmert, when questioned, said Messer and Zaken were responsible for handling Talansky's donations, while Messer told the police that Zaken gave him the money to hold, and he later returned it to her, but never knew who it came from or how it was used. Advertisement Zaken has thus far refused to talk, but Olmert, like Messer, directed the police's attention to her, saying she was the one who arranged his meetings with Talansky and then transferred the money to Messer. "She knows very well what the fact that she is keeping quiet means," a law-enforcement source said. "It has been made clear to her that her silence reinforces the suspicions against Olmert, who, without her, cannot refute the allegations against him. Thus far, however, she has not assisted the investigators." Messer and Zaken, the two key suspects in the case besides Olmert, are both likely to be offered a chance to turn state's evidence against the prime minister. But neither has yet received such an offer. Olmert, Zaken and Messer met each other in the 1970s, when all were working in attorney Uzi Atzmon's law firm. In 1977, all three quit to set up their own law firm, Ehud Olmert and Partners. Zaken was the firm's secretary; the other two were lawyers. Olmert quit the firm in 1988, but to this day, Zaken and Messer remain two of the people closest to him. In 1998, Messer also headed a nonprofit organization that supported Olmert's reelection campaign for the city's mayoralty. Some members of the police and prosecution interpreted Olmert's press conference last Thursday, at which he responded to the suspicions against him, as the first public sign of a break between Olmert and his cronies. At this conference, Olmert saddled Messer with prime responsibility for dealing with the Talansky donations. "I have no doubt that attorney Messer managed this money to the best of his professional ability, and I presume that he did so within the limits of the law," he said. That statement followed press reports that Messer had decided to incriminate Olmert. Zaken has thus far been questioned four times, and additional interrogations are expected. Her house arrest ended last Friday, but she is still forbidden to contact Olmert. Law-enforcement officials continue to insist that the case is "relatively simple to crack," even though they now say the probe will take another several months - a far cry from their earlier estimate of weeks or even days. "In the coming weeks," predicted one, "the picture will already be clearer: whether Messer - who apparently acted innocently - will be cleared of the suspicions against him, and whether sufficient evidence will accumulate against Zaken and Olmert." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Death of a heroine Irena Sendler, who saved 2,500 Jews during the Holocaust, dies at 98. Apocalyptic tidings Holy See warns of nightmarish perils if Mideast nuclear arms race is not halted.

Read & React Israel on alert as clashes rage across Lebanon for sixth day Responses: 277 Olmert to Egypt: No Gaza truce if Shalit is not released Responses: 127 Lieberman: I'd join Netanyahu gov't if I received defense post Responses: 69 Akiva Eldar: If Bush was really Israel's friend, he'd stay home Responses: 89 Haaretz TV: Religious homosexuals contend with self-hatred and Haredi condemnation Responses: 85 More Headlines 02:57 Bush to Haaretz: Peace process not contingent on one man 01:45 Police search J'lem municipality for evidence PM received bribes 02:44 Lebanese army says will use force from Tues. to stop fighting 02:45 ANALYSIS / In Lebanon, the new reality has taken over 20:31 Bush: Olmert is an honest man; our relationship is 'excellent' 02:02 J'lem bracing for gridlock during Peres presidential conference 22:07 U.S. think-tank aims to infuse Jewish life with dashes of color 23:50 Woman killed as rocket directly hits Negev home 21:24 Olmert to Egypt: No Gaza truce if Shalit is not released 00:14 Actor Jon Voight visits Israeli victims of Palestinian attacks during Jerusalem trip 23:42 U.S. victims of terror in Israel sue Swiss bank for ties with Iran 21:36 11 J'lem teens suspected of racially motivated assault against Arabs Previous Editions Select Day 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may 30 apr 29 apr

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Products Buy Dead Sea mineral skin care and beauty products. Coupon code Haaretz for 10% off. Together Celebrating Israel's 60th The Jewish Agency and You - together making history 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