Sharon had close business ties to kidnapped Israeli's father-in-law

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2004

JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had a close business relationship with the father-in-law of a kidnapped reservist colonel who was freed as part of a controversial deal with Hezbollah, the Maariv daily reported.

Elhanan Tanenbaum's father-in-law, Shimon Cohen, who is now 89, was hired by Sharon back in the 1970s to help manage his farm in the southern Negev desert, the paper said.

In a brief interview with the paper, Shimon Cohen said that "Arik (Ariel) Sharon appreciated me very much" but said he had not had any contact with the premier since 1975. His daughter, Esther, is estranged from Tannenbaum.

Sharon himself told reporters he was unaware of any connection between Tannenbaum and Cohen.

The 57-year-old Tannenbaum was...