Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert recently advanced a curious conspiracy theory about me—a theory that would almost be flattering if it weren’t so absurd.
Olmert charged that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “intervened in the U.S. elections in the name of an American billionaire with a clear interest in the vote.” Without a shred of evidence, Olmert pontificated that the “very same billionaire used Israel’s prime minister to advance a nominee of his own for president.”
Think about what Olmert is claiming. He is not suggesting the typical nonsense that the Likud government used me to influence the American election. No, Olmert’s conspiracy theory is even more outlandish: he’s asserting that Netanyahu—who isn’t exactly known to be a pushover—somehow agreed to be my puppet during the U.S. presidential campaign.
When I read Olmert’s comments, it reminded me of the old joke about the Jewish man who preferred reading anti-Semitic newspapers because they tell such good news: how Jews control Congress, how Jews run the media, how Jews pull the strings of international politics. I’m not saying Olmert is being anti-Semitic, but he is crediting me with a degree of power that I simply don’t have. The prime minister of Israel is very much his own man. I can also attest that Bibi has always maintained a neutral position vis-à-vis the U.S. presidential election, as would any sensible Israeli leader.
In trying to make sense of Mr. Olmert’s claims, I can only conclude that he still bears a grudge. Before he left office under a host of corruption charges in 2009, his approval ratings plunged to single digits. It is widely known that he blames an investigative reporter at Israel Hayom for prompting the legal investigations which ultimately led not only to Olmert’s political downfall but also, sadly, his conviction this summer for breach of trust.
Much is made about my friendship with Benjamin Netanyahu, especially by Olmert and the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot, which is a competitor of Israel Hayom. Conveniently forgotten is that I’m also a close friend with Shimon Peres, Elie Wiesel and Alan Dershowitz, the last of whom is an articulate and thoughtful supporter of President Obama. Netanyahu no more does my bidding than any of these other friends of mine.
Mr. Olmert, who is rumored to have his eye on political office, has every right to run a spirited campaign. But he’ll have to come up with more than conspiracy theories if he hopes to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Keep up your good work, Mr. Adelson. n nOlmert is a midget, kicking you in the ankle. n n
Great article!
"his approval ratings plunged to single digits"? The only 'single' digit that Olmert deserves is ZERO. And that is too high as well. Good Americans are grateful to Adelson.
Thanks Mr. Adelson for exposing Olmert's conspirecy.__No one nor the media in Israel take him seriously anymore. __Olmert is facing another appeal and he is not cleaned yet.__I just heared today that you Mr. Adelson donated money to hospitals in the north part of Israel during the war Olmert as a PM conducted with not much success.
Many years ago, back about 1974 or '75, I sat about 6 or 8 feet from Olmert as he spoke to a luncheon meeting at the San Francisco Jewish Community Relations Council. I think he might hae been a young Knesset member at the time. At least he was a young leader in what was probably Herut or Gahal at the time. I developed a deep feeling of discomfort with the guy–just a visceral reaction. I don't know what it was, maybe because back then I was more of a leftist, I had just returned from a trip to Israel sponsored by the Young Guard of the Labor Party. He was the rightist, I was the leftist. Now, I am more of a rightist, and he is a crook and opportunist. I'm sure, if I were around him, I would still have that visceral feeling of discomfort and dislike. Let's hope we never hear from him again.
I met Olmert on many occasions too and I have to say that-until he became a turncoat- I found him an articulate, intelligent Member of the knesset- truly a star in the making .Well, he had us all fooled- and he exposed himself to be a career politician ready to do anything a save his career- the offer he gave abbas before leaving office has hurt israel and his corrupt ways truly disgraced him. he has no future in isareli politics but he is trying his damnedest to get back. for now, R.I. P. Ehud Olmert as a politician.
You are so funny, Sheldon. Pretending that you didn't spend hundreds of millions on the election. God willing, a war will not happen, despite your best efforts and your money. By the grace of god, be he Jehovah, Allah, or Jesus.
"Pretending that you didn't spend hundreds of millions on the election."—where, exactly, does he say or imply that in the post above? You won't find it except in your own mind. n n"God willing, a war will not happen, despite your best efforts and your money."—please explain how Mr. Adelson is trying to make a war happen?
"…and Alan Dershowitz, the last of whom is an articulate and thoughtful supporter of President Obama." n nThoughtful? Does Alan Dershowitz truly deserve such praise? He is primarily a pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage advocate. The safety of Israel rates a distant second on his priority list. He helped elect Barack Obama. Why shouldn't we be horrified?
He also helped in the defense of that football player who murdered his wife and boyfriend.
Thank you, Mr. Adelson, for your strong support of Israel, financial, political and now in the blogosphere. We need more people like you!
it's soooo wrong to say anything about Mr Adelson. n nfar far better that he's NEVER mentioned or heard from
Similar argument: It is far far better that ldubinsky is NEVER mentioned or heard from. No reasons needs to be given. Just general disgust is more than enough of an argument.
Absolutely. And a gay married doctor performing abortions: doubleplusgood!
No, it doesnt matter what sexual preferences your doctor have.
Is it wonderful how illiterate boorish assholes like Sheldon Adelson who thinks he can buy and control whatever he wants can pay for, can arrange to have more literate intelligent people offer write hostile commentary on his behalf? nI would give all I have to hear this rich commoner try to communicate in his own vernacular.
"can arrange to have more literate intelligent people offer write hostile commentary on his behalf"–so you think Adelson did not write the post above; rather, it was written by someone literate and intelligent? Therefore, you will retract and say Adelson is literate and intelligent if Adelson wrote it and not someone he paid to do so (as you charge without evidence)? n nSeems like the boorish asshole is you, unless you have some evidence that Adelson had to pay someone to write this post. n
Stay classy, Mitch.
as an addendum: olmert is a lawyer…….
Well in the days of Tricky Dick it used to be used car salesmen that were used as examples.