Who is Arkadi Gaydamak?

IHC News 26 June 2007:



Russian-Israeli investor Arkadi Gaydamak agreed this week to buy a 45-percent stake in Willy Food Investments Ltd., an Israeli importer of canned pickles, fish and dried fruit, for $40.5 million. Gaydamak has been described as Israel’s billionaire mystery man and perhaps it is worthwhile to be acquainted with his history, his connections and his political aspirations.



Behind the scenes, Arkadi Gaydamak’s history and fortune allegedly involves weapons, oil, blood diamonds, Marc Rich, Pierre Falcone, alleged bribes to Jean-Christophe Mitterrand (the son of the former French president), KGB, campaign donations to George Bush and John McCain, Mikhail Khodorkovsky's Menatep bank (the one linked to the money-laundering at Bank of New York) and ties to Dick Cheney/Halliburton. Gaydamak has Angolan citizenship and holds both French and Canadian passports as well as Russian and Israeli ones. He has three luxury homes in Israel where he resides and avoids outstanding arrest warrant for arms dealing with Angola and tax evasion charges prompted by French authorities. What makes Gaydamak an important figure to follow are his political ambitions, wealth and understanding of its influence on the flow of politics. On 20 February 2007, Gaydamak announced his intention to found a new Israeli party called Social Justice. He said his organization will initially be established as a social movement, but noted that it could become a political party at any time, "based on the circumstances." He stated the movement would run alongside Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud and it has been suggested the party will eventually merge into Likud. The billionaire businessman claims he is not personally interested in an active political life, but wants to be the man who determines who becomes prime minister. (Sources: J.Post/OJ/wikipedia/IHC)