Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will be questioned by police again this Friday regarding the cash-filled envelopes he received from Moshe Talansky. It will be the third time Olmert is being interrogated under caution in this case.
Talansky, a resident of New York and avid supporter of Israeli and Jewish causes, testified in a special pre-trial court session several weeks ago that he gave then-Health Minister Olmert the money for his electoral campaign for Mayor of Jerusalem.
Talansky testified that though he offered to give checks, Olmert requested cash - and Talansky acceded, to the tune of at least $150,000. He explained that he "never received or expected anything [in exchange]," and that he "loved" Olmert, admiring especially his commitment to the social cohesiveness and political unity of Jerusalem.
Talansky is scheduled to return to Israel for cross-examination, which will take place on July 17. Olmert has expressed confidence that the cross-examination will strongly devalue Talansky's original testimony. Talansky's reports of cash-filled envelopes led to across-the-board calls for Olmert's resignation, as well as to the setting of a date for Kadima Party primaries in which Olmert is expected to be replaced as party leader.
Olmert's questioning by National Fraud Unit investigators will take place in his official residence in Jerusalem on Friday morning. The police have asked Olmert to set aside two hours for the session.