 |
|
The Forward adds:The Long Island financier at the center of a scandal that could topple Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert started raising money for the embattled politician nearly a decade ago, The Post has learned.
Morris Talansky, a millionaire entrepreneur from Woodmere, served as treasurer for the New Jerusalem Foundation, a charity Olmert founded in 1999 as mayor of the city. ...
The nonprofit New Jerusalem Foundation was set up as an alternative to the long-established Jerusalem Foundation, which did not operate directly under mayoral control.
Political rivals long accused Olmert of using its funds for political purposes instead of helping local charities. ...
More from the NYT:While Talansky has donated to both Democratic and Republican candidates over the years, the New Jerusalem Fund has been led since its founding in 1992 by right-wing politicians, first by Olmert himself and subsequently by current Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky. The foundation raises approximately $4 million to $5 million annually, according to an official involved in fundraising for Israeli causes, and centers its efforts on soliciting donations from Evangelical Christians.
... The fund-raising in 1999 that prompted the investigation into Mr. Olmert also led to campaign finance charges against people close to Mr. Sharon. His son, Omri Sharon, is serving a prison term as a result of that case. [...]
A registered Democrat, Mr. Talansky has donated to many American candidates on both sides of the aisle. He gave President Bush $1,000 in 2003, and was a generous donor to Rudolph W. Giuliani in 2000. Among his Democratic beneficiaries have been President Bill Clinton in 1995; Thomas S. Foley, then the House speaker, in 1994; and Senator Edward M. Kennedy in 1992. ...
The rabbi discounted one theory making the rounds in Israel that his cousin might be embroiled in a political effort to topple the centrist Israeli prime minister. “He’s no extremist in any way,” said Rabbi Talansky. ...