May 28, 2008 7:34

Revenge of a Millionaire Sucker

Morris Talansky hounded by reporters. / AFP

One of the first words I learned coming to Israel was "Freier."It 's a Yiddish word meaning "Sucker". And I seemed to have the word "Freier" plastered in big letters across my forehead. I rented a garden apartment and then the landlord promptly rented out part of the garden to a café, and from there everything just got worse.

But at last, I think I've found a bigger freier. His name is Morris Talansky, and like me, he's a foreigner in Israel. A U.S. businessman, Talansky is much in the news these days, hounded by the press, and the police. On Tuesday he told a Jerusalem court that over the past 15 years, he gave $150,000 to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, much of it in cash stuffed into envelopes.

And Talansky, who apparently has money to burn, said he did it because he admired Olmert, thought he was a "Prince of the Likud" party, and he didn't expect anything in return. No pay-back.

Wait a minute. He shelled out all this money to Olmert and didn't expect anything in return? Either Morris is truly a magnanimous gent, or he's the Crown Prince of Freiers. Compared to Morris, I'm somewhere in the palace kitchen, mucking out pots.

What amazes me is that Morris kept shelling out thick wads of bills -- including a $15,000 loan for an Olmert family vacation (never re-paid, says Morris)."I told Olmert I'd like him to return the money as soon as possible," the businessman told Israeli prosecutors. "Famous last words." The only time that Morris seemed miffed while giving testimony was when he remarked on Olmert's expensive habits -Cuban cigars, silk ties, classy wristwatches. You got the feeling those were luxuries that Morris, a hard-working guy, wouldn't even allow himself.

Talansky's testimony may nail Olmert for good, even though the premier protests that he never took a bribe and that all the cash in these envelopes went towards campaign funds. Morris says that once Olmert became PM he didn't have much time for his American friend. After taking office, he only saw Morris once, at a reception. Is that any way to treat a long-time friend admirer and giver of cash? Guess he didn't need Morris or his hand-outs any more. Guilty or not, Olmert's may soon be history. Labor Party leader and Defense Minister Ehud Barak today called for his resignation, and others in the fragile governing coalition may soon follow. And Morris, the Crown Prince of Freiers may get the last laugh.

by Tim McGirk/ Jerusalem