(17 Jul 2008) SHOTLIST
1. Exterior of Jerusalem district court, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s attorney, Eli Zohar talking to media
2. SOUNDBITE: (English): Eli Zohar, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s attorney:
“There will be a cross examination of Mr. Talansky, a cross examination that started a month ago and will proceed.”
3. Tilt down from sign reading (Hebrew/Arabic/English): “District court of Jerusalem” to entrance to court, Zohar entering building
4. Businessman Morris Talansky walking into courthouse followed by media
5. Reporters at courthouse
6. State attorney, Eran Shendar, speaking to media
7. Wide of media assembled
8. SOUNDBITE: (English): Eran Shendar, State attorney:
“The decision will be finally taken after we evaluate all the evidence that we are still gathering together and that will take place we hope within a short time.”
9. Policemen outside courthouse
STORYLINE:
Lawyers representing Ehud Olmert on Thursday cross-examined a key witness in a corruption probe against the Israeli prime minister, hoping to discredit allegations that Olmert illicitly accepted cash-stuffed envelopes from an American businessman to help fund a luxurious lifestyle.
The cross-examination of the businessman, Moshe Talansky, is seen in Israel as perhaps Olmert’s last chance of political survival.
Olmert’s attorney, Eli Zohar told AP Television that “there will be a cross examination of Mr. Talansky, a cross examination that started a month ago and will proceed.”
Talansky’s testimony in May seriously damaged Olmert’s credibility among Israelis.
The resulting outrage prompted Olmert’s Kadima Party to set new leadership elections, to be held by September 25. That poll could effectively end the Olmert premiership, and make way for a new prime minister.
Olmert’s premature departure from office could seriously hamper or delay his government’s efforts to conclude a peace deal with the Palestinians and resume full negotiations with the Syrians.
Olmert has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He has said he will resign if he is indicted.
State attorney, Eran Shendar said that the decision on whether to prosecute Olmert “will be finally taken after we evaluate all the evidence that we are still gathering together and that will take place we hope within a short time”.
Olmert is reportedly still considering running in the Kadima primaries, hoping that his lawyers will be able to discredit Talansky, a 75-year-old businessman who lives on New York’s Long Island.
Talansky accused Olmert of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash during his tenure as Jerusalem mayor and as a Cabinet minister before he was elected prime minister in 2006.
The money went to feed a penchant for expensive cigars, first-class travel and luxury hotels, Talansky charged.
His cross-examination is expected to take five days.
Police suspect the money was meant as bribes, although Talansky insisted he never got anything in return, or illegal campaign financing.
In the latest revelation in the case, police last week accused Olmert of pocketing thousands of dollars by deceiving multiple sources, including organisations for Holocaust survivors, into paying for the same trips abroad.
The widening of the investigation was announced as Olmert was questioned for the third time in the corruption probe.
Olmert has called the most recent accusations “distorted,” charging the police and state prosecutors with trying to bring him down.
Olmert’s allies note that he’s been written off before only to emerge intact.
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