The testimony by financier and philanthropist Moshe Talansky regarding money he allegedly gave Prime Minister Ehud Olmert over the years led today to calls for Olmert's resignation and more speculation that his days as Prime Minister may soon be over.
MK Limor Livnat (Likud) claimed that the testimony proved that Olmert must resign and that Israel needs new elections. "Attempts by Olmert and his men to cast aspersions on Moshe Talansky notwithstanding, it became clear today that the Prime Minister did indeed receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in envelopes - in cash and not in checks," the former Education Minister said.
Meretz leader Chaim Oron said: "I repeat my call for Olmert to suspend himself from office immediately. His rights as a citizen and his duties as Prime Minister cannot be bridged. The only way out is the end of his service as Prime Minister."
'Not one more hour"
MK Ran Cohen from Meretz said that despite his support for Olmert's plans to cede parts of the Land of Israel to Arabs, the current crisis should be enough for Olmert to resign. "If Talansky's testimony is accurate," he said, "Olmert cannot sit for even one more day in the prime minister's chair."
NRP Chief MK Zevulun Orlev called upon the parties that make up the coalition to leave the government. "Talansky's testimony is a grave public charge sheet against Olmert," he said. "A Prime Minister who asked for and received cash in envelopes has lost the moral and public authority for his term in office. The coalition parties will be accomplices to an offense if they do not bring about the end of his term," he added.
"Coalition might even be strengthened"
MK Otniel Schneller (Kadima), long considered a staunch Olmert supporter, told Channel 2 that if Olmert were to leave the Prime Minister's Office, another person from Kadima could take his place and "the coalition might even be strengthened."
Olmert's lawyers and public relations advisers appeared on television and downplayed the significance of Talansky's testimony. Prof. Amos Shapira who recently joined Olmert's legal team told Channel 2 that receiving cash contributions for campaigns is not illegal. He said that cash contributions in envelopes are a routine occurrence in fundraising.
Tal Zilberstein, Olmert's media advisor, said on Channel One that the early testimony by Talansky belonged in a police investigation but was instead aired before the entire public.