WORLD> Middle East
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WORLD> Middle East
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Israeli PM to resign, won't run in party primary
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-07-31 06:54 Possibly hinting at his expectation of being in power for some time, Olmert pledged to work for peace "as long as I am in my position," and said talks with Palestinians and Syria are "closer than ever" to achieving understandings. But the internal turmoil could make it difficult for Olmert to close deals with either the Palestinians or Syria, agreements that long have eluded Israeli leaders. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said Olmert's decision would not change much. "It's true that Olmert was enthusiastic about the peace process, and he spoke about this process with great attention, but this process has not achieved any progress or breakthrough," Malki said. He said the Palestinians would deal with any Israeli government. Olmert spoke as his delegation to indirect talks with Syria returned from a fourth round in Turkey. The two sides set another round for August. Israeli political analyst Yossi Alpher said Olmert's resignation would at least slow the process. "The Arabs are asking themselves how useful an agreement with Olmert would be, because he is a self-proclaimed lame duck and he will have a hard time to get his deals approved," Alpher said. While neither the Palestinians nor Syria would be eager to close a deal with a lame-duck leader, the prospect of Netanyahu lurking in the wings could propel them forward despite the fluid political situation. White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said President Bush called Olmert to pledge continued cooperation. "Relations between the United States and Israel during Prime Minister Olmert's tenure have been exceptionally close and cooperative, and the president has appreciated his friendship, his leadership, and his work for peace," Johndroe said. "We're confident that the close United States-Israel relationship will continue in the future." Israeli political analyst Dan Margalit, a longtime friend of Olmert who recently fell from his favor, called the decision to step down "a sad end to a miserable career." Olmert took over as premier after Ariel Sharon suffered a massive stroke in January 2006. Olmert was a relatively obscure politician who had been named vice premier as a move of political expediency when it appeared that Sharon would serve indefinitely. Instead, Olmert, known as a backslapping political operator with charm and fluent English, suddenly became prime minister. His first initiative was to go where even the popular Sharon never dared — following up Sharon's unilateral 2005 withdrawal from Gaza with a plan for a similar pullback in the West Bank. But events soon overtook him. Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon staged a cross-border raid, killing three Israeli soldiers and capturing two. Olmert hastily ordered his military into battle, pledging to smash Hezbollah and bring back the soldiers, but accomplishing neither goal. Instead, Hezbollah rained nearly 4,000 rockets on Israel, and Israeli forces ran an operation, later roundly criticized, that depended on airstrikes and bombing and only later on sweeps by ground forces. The war ended with a U.N. Security Council resolution that allowed both sides, equally battered, to declare victory, but an Israeli commission of inquiry excoriated Olmert and his team for the handling of the war. Olmert's proposed West Bank pullback dropped off the table as his popularity plunged. Like Sharon, Olmert underwent a political transformation from hawk to moderate, from backing Israeli control of all of the West Bank and Gaza Strip with constant settlement expansion to helping Sharon lead Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Gaza. Olmert, 62, gained governing experience in a decade as mayor of Jerusalem, balancing Jewish and Palestinian interests and wrestling with constant budget shortfalls by raising money abroad. Bitterly summing up during his 10-minute address Wednesday, Olmert said, "Did I make mistakes over my political career? Without a doubt, yes, and I regret them and I am sorry. But is the real picture that which is presented to the public? Absolutely not."
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