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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. (GPO) Last update - 09:40 28/05/2008 Olmert is being judged in the court of public opinion By Yossi Verter Tags: Ehud Olmert, Morris Talansky Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's lawyers are right: According to the law, it is not at all clear whether there is something illegal in Olmert's dealings with his own private bank, the "Talansky Bank." It is certainly worth waiting for the cross examination on July 17. It is likely to reveal contradictions about the sums of money, or to refute a story or two like the luxurious family vacation in Italy, which Olmert's attorneys claim never happened. But no cross examination, no matter how brilliant and effective it may be, will save the politician Ehud Olmert. It will not polish his image nor remove the stench rising from the description of his relationship with Talansky. It will never return Olmert to the days before the investigation. Publicly, Olmert is finished. There is no going back. Talansky's initial testimony Tuesday in the Jerusalem District Court will forever hover like a toxic cloud over the prime minster, wherever he goes - until he finally goes. Advertisement That is the small difference between a newspaper headline and testimony under oath in court. The suspicions against Ariel Sharon in the Greek Island and Cyril Kern affairs were no less serious, maybe even more so. But the Sharon investigations never reached the courtroom. And, in any case, people were willing to forgive Sharon for anything. His heir, Olmert, is now considered politically dead. In the political arena and in his party, Kadima, he no longer counts. So what are they counting? The money hidden in the envelopes that he took, according to Talansky, well after the primary elections ended. The story that unfolded Tuesday in the Jerusalem courtroom was a guide to the good life, Olmert-style: luxury suites, fountain pens, cigars, first-class flights and the fixer who paid for it all. In the best possible light, Olmert is a crass hedonist. In the worst, there are various crimes hiding inside the story, which the prosecution will decide on, when it is ready. No one was ever forced out of office for hedonism, but what makes the situation unbearable is the cash, the green bills that passed from Talansky to Olmert for such a long time without being reported, without accounting and without a trace - except for what was written in Shula Zaken's diaries. It is hard to say whether Tuesday's testimony will have immediate political effects. It is likely that it won't. Ehud Barak does not intend to quit the government in the foreseeable future, and Tzipi Livni will not quit. They will leave Olmert twisting in the wind. Olmert's confidantes asked Tuesday what was the difference between his case and that of Benjamin Netanyahu's pleasure trips to London and Paris, which were also paid for with huge sums by various millionaires. Why, asked Olmert's friends, did Bibi get out of it cheaply, while Olmert is being pursued by the prosecution? Sooner or later, when Olmert will be a former prime minister, he will sit at home and wonder why he needed all this disgusting trouble. But it will be too late. He has lost the trust of his party,and more important, the public's trust. In a survey conducted last night after Talansky's testimony, 70 percent of those polled said they do not believe Olmert's version that the money he received went only for his election campaigns. What is even worse for him, 51 percent of his own party's voters don't believe him either. Related articles: Editorial / Explain or resign Uzi Benziman / In Argentina it wouldn't faze anyone Talansky: I gave Olmert thousands of dollars Bookmark to del.icio.us   Scuba SMS Ultrasonic sound wave technology revolutionizes underwater communication. 'Hip-hop violinist' Israeli violinist participates in New York event, celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary.   1.   71% of public & 51% of Kadima want him out yet Kadima does Nothin 07:02  |  Dish it Out 28/05/08   2.   campaign against Olmert Beyond belief 07:41  |  paulo2005 28/05/08   3.   #2 Paulo, "last days in life"! 08:21  |  AliciaYasmeen 28/05/08   4.   #2 - he cannot focus, on sickness, money laundering and being PM! 08:24  |  redmike 28/05/08   5.   Hmm...who else likes smoking expensive cigars? 08:43  |  Gilad 28/05/08   6.   # 2 Paulo - Olmert Not That Sick 09:06  |  Gil J. Yashar 28/05/08   7.   Gravely ill???? 09:10  |  Colin 28/05/08   8.   it is called moral turpitude 09:20  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/05/08   9.   the court of public opinion 09:43  |  sam 28/05/08   10.   Political Culture and the Public 10:04  |  Michael 28/05/08

Read & React Bradley Burston: The talkbacker as terrorist Responses: 281 Barak tells Olmert: Quit or face elections Responses: 173 Reuven Pedatzur: How Carter made Israel an official nuclear power Responses: 149 Was Shakespeare a Jewish woman in disguise? Responses: 77 Sources: Iran may attack Israeli targets abroad over Syria talks Responses: 82 More Headlines 23:32 Olmert: Not every person under probe must resign 21:58 PM's ex-bureau chief denies offering to testify in Olmert corruption case 22:48 Syria: Olmert's political weakness may affect recently renewed peace talks 00:00 U.K. academic union moves to consider boycott of Israeli academia 02:08 U.S. trial set for two men accused of aiding Hezbollah 20:46 'Hip-hop violinist' celebrates Israel's 60th in New York 23:22 Fugitive suspected child abuser's kids removed from wife's custody 02:35 Jeremy Ben-Ami 01:41 Gaza City: Where the traffic jams smell like falafel 22:50 Poll: 63% of Israelis back release of Samir Kuntar for IDF soldiers 21:26 Basketball legend Dr. J: Israel is an inspiration for Jews in America 22:45 Haredi man detained for sexually assaulting 7-year-old girl 17:53 Aide: Obama misspoke when he said uncle liberated Auschwitz Previous Editions Select Day 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may

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