Text size this story is by  The edifice at 3 Haftman Street in
Tel Aviv is packed with people on Thursdays. Mayors make the
pilgrimage to the sixth floor of the Mifal Hapayis (national
lottery) building, hoping that its chairman will deign to meet
with them. Perhaps he will also agree to throw them a bone from
his fat coffers. After all, he is the one with the money, and
this year is an election year.  Being chairman of Mifal Hapayis
is like being chairman of a mint. Mifal Hapayis has a monopoly
on legal gambling, and Israelis are known gambling fans: Every
year, the volume of gambling only increases. The chairman's
office is hence the most sought-after post in the public sector.
It is a guaranteed job for seven years, with a high salary,
excellent benefits and enormous political power. Everyone flocks
to the chairman's doorstep: not only mayors, but also service
suppliers, advertising agencies, artists and writers - all
hoping for a contract or funding.  Since political power is in
essence the ability to han