News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s close friend and attorney Uri Messer has testified that he gave Olmert large quantities of cash in envelopes, according to Maariv.  Messer said money raised by United States businessman Moshe (Morris) Talansky was passed on to Olmert in cash.

Messer’s testimony supports that of Talansky, who said he raised money for Olmert during his race for mayor of Jerusalem and again during internal elections in the Likud party. The money was sent to Olmert in checks, bank deposits, and cash, Talansky said, adding, “If the money was used for illegal means, or was not reported to the State Comptroller, or if other crimes were committed, it was without my knowledge.”

Both Olmert and his bureau head Shula Zaken have been questioned by police for alleged illegal receipt of money. In a speech given Thursday night after a gag order on the case was lifted, Olmert appeared to pass responsibility to Messer, saying Messer had handled the donations and Olmert trusted him to do so in a legal manner.