Haaretz: PM Olmert Pal Morris Talansky

Clearly Morris Talansky had a special relationship with Edud Olmert. The question now - was it all above board?

מקים הקרן: אולמרט הגזבר בארה"ב: טלנסקי
הארץ -
בשנת 2000 הוקמה ביוזמתו של ראש העיר ירושלים אז, אהוד אולמרט, "הקרן החדשה לירושלים למען תושביה", שנועדה לקדם פרויקטים בתחומי החינוך, הרווחה והתרבות. העמותה התחרתה ב"קרן ירושלים" שהקים ראש העיר הקודם טדי קולק. אחת הדמויות המרכזיות בפעילות הקרן החדשה בארה"ב, ולפי מסמכים שהגיעו לידי "הארץ" אף היה גזבר הקרן - היה לא אחר מאשר משה (מוריס) טלנסקי. באתר האינטרנט של הקרן החדשה לירושלים, שבאורח פלא הפך ללא פעיל במהלך הפרשה, הוזכרה גם אשתו של טלנסקי, הלן, כנציגה בארה"ב. לפחות במשך כמה שנים, כתובת סניף הקרן בארה"ב ...

Haaretz:

When Olmert met Talansky

Long Island mogul Morris Talansky is a longtime acquaintance of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, even before the latter was elected Jerusalem mayor.

Olmert used to call Talansky "my dear old friend," and his aides referred to him as "Mr. T." Olmert's close associates called Talansky "the banker" or "the launderer."

Talansky has been named as one of the contributors to Olmert's mayoral campaign in 1998. Olmert's associates say Talansky used to meet Olmert when he visited Israel in his bureau or in a Jerusalem hotel lobby. When Olmert visited New York the two usually met in Olmert's hotel suite.

Some Jerusalem municipal officials remember Talansky's visits. "He used to go directly inside without stopping for small talk with advisers and secretaries," said a former senior city official who worked with Olmert.

Veteran city officials said an ultra-Orthodox contractor and political wheeler dealer, Yehuda Peli, introduced Olmert to Talansky.

Talansky, who was executive director of the American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center for over 20 years, is believed to have met Olmert during this period. Olmert frequently attended Shaare Zedek dinners and other fundraising events sponsored by the Jerusalem-based hospital.

Talansky's associates have recently denied reports that he was a right-wing activist who was acting against Olmert for ideological reasons. They said Olmert and Talansky kept close ties even after Olmert modified his political approach and supported the disengagement.