Controversial Russian leader backs Israel forum 

A controversial Russian Jewish businessman and community leader will become the main sponsor of a security conference in Israel. Arcadi Gaydamak will be the main supporter of the next Herzliya conference, an annual event in Israel where government and business leaders convene to discuss Israeli and international issues and security problems, under an agreement with the Institute for Policy and Strategy in Herzliya, which organizes the event. The next conference is scheduled for January 2006. Earlier this year, Gaydamak was elected president of the Congress of Jewish Religious Communities and Organizations of Russia. Last month, Gaydamak bought the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team in what was widely seen as an attempt to boost his influence in Israel. Over the past decade, Gaydamak has been dogged by allegations of unscrupulous business operations and is still wanted in France on charges of fraud and tax evasion. Some top Israeli officials have shunned contact with Gaydamak because of his controversial reputation.