Ukrainian Jewish businessman Alexander Granovsky, who teamed with IDB Holding Corp. Ltd. (TASE:IDBH) chairman Nochi Dankner in the latter's effort to keep control of the company, says that he first became interested in investing in Israel at the advice of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Granovsky says that Dankner is a "mensch" and he promises to change the bad image oligarchs have been stuck with in Israel.
"At a press briefing in Odessa today, Granovsky said, "I am a Jew and my whole family are Jews. I visited Kfar Chabad in Israel and I was impressed. I felt a private providence. I saw the Lubavitcher Rebbe on television saying that the best place to invest was in Israel and it persuaded me. With God's help, we'll initiate activity in Israel; it's my country and I am a Zionist. Israel is my number 1 - God and the rebbe have already decided. I only fear them, nothing else."
Granovsky is competing against Eduardo Elsztain and Motti Ben-Moshe in the tender for control of IDB. "We're entering Israel to do business, even if I don’t win IDB, I'll seek to invest in Israel. If we win the tender, through IDB, we'll make more investments. It's impossible for us not to win IDB, but if God decides no, then we'll find another investment in Israel."
As for his partner, Dankner, Granovsky said, "Nochi is a good Jew, a nice man, a mensch, a good friend and a good partner. We will try to take all the decisions together. I have enough money, thanks be to God, now I only want to contribute to Chabad all over the world. Nochi will play his part if he wants."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 7, 2013
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