Israeli Leaders Find Generous Donors in U.S.; Americans Give Most To the Political Right.

[Faygo Kid]

By Griff Witte
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, July 26, 2008; Page A01

JERUSALEM -- American businessman Morris Talansky has riveted Israel with tales of bankrolling the plush lifestyle of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert: the expensive cigars and five-star suites, a fine watch and an Italian vacation.

While most Israelis have been galled at the extent of the alleged corruption, no one has been surprised by the source of the funds. Politicians in Israel have long known that if they want to raise large amounts of money, for whatever reason, they'll find it in the United States.

Foreign donations are banned for general elections, but Israeli leaders routinely get half or more of their campaign contributions for party primaries from overseas, and mostly from American donors.

The fundraising trend is especially pronounced on Israel's political right; politicians who advocate aggressive military action against Iran and Hamas and who maintain an uncompromising stance against ceding land to the Palestinians have typically found generous support for their views in the States. . .

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/25/AR2008072503490.html

Swell. Just swell.