The American businessman at the heart of bribery allegations against Ehud Olmert returned to Israel.
Morris Talansky flew Thursday to Tel Aviv from New York to attend a family function. He declined to speak to reporters, and it was not clear how long he planned to stay.
Talansky sent Israeli politics into disarray last month by testifying in open court that he gave Olmert some $150,000 in cash campaign contributions and unpaid loans over the 15 years before Olmert became prime minister.
Olmert has denied wrongdoing in the case. His lawyers hope to undermine Talansky’s credibility when they cross-examine him in a second deposition scheduled for July 17. They have said they may try to advance the proceedings, perhaps to this month, in a bid to turn the tables on Israeli prosecutors.
Many in the Jewish state expect early elections because of the scandal.
