The state witness in the Holyland real estate trial continued giving testimony on Thursday morning,. The day’s proceeding in the Tel Aviv District Court focused on defendant Uri Lupoliansky, a former Jerusalem mayor and deputy mayor. The witness told the court how money was given to Lupoliansky to build a shul and aron kodesh and the defendant assisted in moving ahead the Holyland project in return. The witness indicated 1 million NIS was allocated for the project.
The witness, described on by initials Shin Daled told the court he accompanied Lupoliansky on a tour of the Yad Sarah Building in the capital in May 2000. It was during the tour that Lupoliansky reportedly explained how he wants to build a shul in the complex but lacks the funds.
He told of how 88,000 NIS was donated to Yad Sarah to mark the opening of the nationwide chessed organization’s 100th branch.
He added that on the day Lupoliansky was elected mayor of the capital he gave him 120,000 NIS in cash to use to pay off city officials who were going to assist in moving the project forward. A meeting was held in the King David Hotel.
There was also talk of an additional $30,000 given to Lupoliansky by Meir Rabin. On another occasion, 40,000 NIS was given to a son of Lupoliansky, adding the sums “were not given as a loan”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
I don’t see anything wrong in helping someone do something productive, and get through bureaucratic obstacles set in his way, in appreciation for his having given tzedakah.
Better he should have taken the money to live like a king (or should I say “an hiloni elite” in deference to Israel’s republican constitution) – or perhaps used the money for something normal like sports, entertainment or undressed ladies. At least the Israeli would see him as normal and unthreatening