This morning, former Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky was convicted of accepting a bribe. In his ruling, Judge David Rosen ruled that Lupoliansky "was aware of the large donations that were made and acted contrary to proper standards." The judge also ruled that Lupoliansky was aware that the donations were received within the framework and as a result of his position in the municipality. "The state's witness spoke the truth regarding the donations to the Holy Ark, the synagogue and 'Yad Sarah,'" the judge ruled.
When the trial ended, Lupolianski went to the headquarters of the Yad Sara organization in Jerusalem, where he was greeted by dozens of his family members, associates, and employees of the organization with singing and dancing. Those who greeted him expressed their support with applause, and encouraged him with love and words of hope. "Uri, we love you," they wrote on signs hung on the walls, and one of the employees of the organization managed to bake a cake and write on it: "Always with you, the Yad Sara family.".
One of the attendees lifted Lupolianski onto his shoulders and they danced, like a groom, in the center of a bouncy dance circle that formed spontaneously. "They knelt and fell, and we rose and cheered" - they sang for about half an hour, at the end of which Lupolianski came up to deliver a few words on a makeshift podium.
In his remarks, he said: "The judge also noted in court that the funds I received were not for my personal pockets but for the benefit of the institution only. They were not intended for my personal benefit." Lupolianski appeared tense, but insisted on projecting confidence and tried to spread smiles everywhere. Journalists who arrived at the improvised stand expressed a modest presence and tried not to burden them with questions and difficulties.
In a ruling issued this morning in the Tel Aviv court, Judge David Rosen ruled that the elements of the offenses attributed to Lupolianski in the 'Holyland' affair were proven to the fullest extent. According to the conviction, Lupolianski received a payment of 1.25 million shekels from Cherni, by taking 785 thousand shekels from the state to build a synagogue, and another 77,057 shekels for a holy shrine, 84,300 shekels for synagogue furniture, 88 thousand shekels for an event at the Ambassador's House, 255 thousand shekels for the purchase of wheelchairs, and 40 thousand shekels for a yeshiva led by his son Yitzhak. In total, about 1.33 million shekels from the state. In addition, Lupolianski is acquitted "by reason of doubt" of the offense of receiving 120 thousand shekels for activists on election day.
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