WORLD> Middle East
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WORLD> Middle East
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Olmert's rivals jostle for Israel's leadership
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-07-31 21:06 Livni, Mofaz Four Kadima ministers, including Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz, have launched campaigns to replace Olmert in the September 17 vote. Polls have shown Livni, Israel's chief negotiator with the Palestinians, ahead within Kadima. But Netanyahu's Likud party could try to thwart Kadima's plans to form the next Israeli government by mustering a majority in parliament, either to form its own coalition or to move up elections scheduled for 2010. Opinion polls suggest Netanyahu, a leading critic of Olmert's peace moves with the Palestinians and Syria, would win such a snap poll. "This government has reached an end and it doesn't matter who heads Kadima. They are all partners in this government's total failure," Netanyahu told Israel Radio. "National responsibility requires a return to the people and new elections." A key Olmert confidant, Vice Premier Haim Ramon, said new elections were a "high" probability because he believed the next Kadima leader would find it difficult to form a new government. If that happens, Olmert could remain caretaker prime minister for 100 days after he resigns. Olmert has faced weeks of public pressure to step down over probes into suspicions he took bribes from a Jewish American businessman and made duplicate claims for travel expenses. Police said the prime minister, who has denied any wrongdoing, would be questioned for a fourth time on Friday. One day after Olmert announced he would step down, Israel's largest daily newspapers featured front-page photos of the prime minister walking away from the cameras after his announcement. The banner headline in the biggest-selling Yedioth Ahronoth read: "The Right Step." Rival daily Maariv declared: "Olmert's Era, the End." |
