WORLD> Middle East
Olmert's vow to quit shakes peace talks
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-07-31 10:38

However, the opposition Likud party said Olmert's announcement was sufficient cause for a general election, after which Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu said he would aspire to establish a national unity government.

Olmert's successor as Kadima leader would not automatically take office as prime minister. If his successor can establish a coalition, the Jewish state could have a new government in October. Otherwise an election campaign could take several months.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said President George W. Bush talked with Olmert Wednesday before the prime minister announced his decision to resign in September.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert delivers a statement to the media at his official residence in Jerusalem, Israel, July 30, 2008. [Agencies]
Bush intends to work closely with Olmert until that time, and wishes him well, Johndroe added.

"We will continue to work on a deal before the end of the year," Johndroe said when asked how Olmert's departure would affect the fragile peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

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Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas saw Olmert's decision as an "internal Israeli matter" and will work with his successor, said Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rdineh.

Israel and the Palestinians relaunched the long-stalled peace talks after attending an international peace conference held in Annapolis of the United States in November, with an aim to reach a peace agreement by the end of 2008.

The US president had promised the two sides that he will help them clinch such an agreement. However, Olmert cautioned on Monday that the two parties may not be able to ink a peace agreement including the issue of Jerusalem by the year-end.