An American Jewish buyer, in Jerusalem's Nof Zion residential project has written to Bank Leumi's (TASE: LUMI) board of directors, accusing the bank of betraying him. "Globes" has obtained a copy of the letter by Robert Friedbauer, which follows "Globes" exposé that Bashar al-Masri is the Palestinian who bought the project, near the Armon Hanatziv Promenade overlooking the Old City, for NIS 80 million from Digal Investment and Holdings Ltd. (TASE: DIGL). The deal was mediated by Adv. Dov Weissglass.
Friedbaur said, "My wife and I are US residents and apartment owners of Nof Zion built by Digal Investments. We are longtime Zionists and strong believers in Eretz Israel… I also am in communications with many of the American owners. These people have powerful and influential roles and connections in their respective communities."
"We were under the impression that Bank Leumi would never work against 'Am Israel'. We are now rapidly coming to the conclusion that this may not be true. Bank Leumi appears to be in the act of betrayal by facilitating a secretive transaction that would lead to the sale of Nof Zion property to Arab interests..."
"It would be a pity that Bank Leumi with such a close link to Eretz Israel would tarnish its reputation by participating in a secret transaction to sell a substantial piece of land in a critical area of Jerusalem to Arab interests. I cannot believe that if you thought this out fully you would be prepared to bear the brunt of hostility toward the bank that would ensue after this information became public."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 19, 2010
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2010