- Title: ISRAEL: Israelis react to Prime MInister Olmert's announcement to quit
- Date: 31st July 2008
- Summary: LABOUR PARTY MEMBER AND ISRAELI WELFARE MINISTER ISAAC HERZOG WALKING FROM CAR WIDE OF HERZOG SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) LABOUR PARTY MEMBER AND ISRAELI WELFARE MINISTER ISAAC HERZOG, SAYING: "We will be in a period of inclarity for the next few months. There will be, of course, a race within Kadima, and thereafter we will have to see whether one can form a new governm
- Embargoed: 15th August 2008 13:00
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- Location: Israel
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAB5ZUU0MPS3OPB3T8XMPCIALA5
- Story Text: Israelis awoke on Thursday (July 31) to a new political landscape after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, dogged by corruption probes, said he would resign after his party picks a new leader in September.
Residents of the central city of Tel Aviv raised different voices.
"If you consider all the problems that there was in his time as being prime minister: the war in the north, all the investigations, the corruption, all the problems - it is a very miserable ending, to a very miserable career," Yair Raviv said.
"What I think will be? Well, I hope that a strong personality will emerge that will, unlike some of the other Israeli politicians, not be corrupt and have straight ideas, and stick to them, and do what is necessary,"
Anne Morocutti said.
"Generally speaking Ehud Olmert is a good prime minister, and he was a good prime minister but he got involved in a few problems that he needs to sort out. It's time for him to take responsibility and be relieved from duty, and it's alright. We're a strong democracy. We're going to have elections, or internal elections in his party. There's going to be a new prime minister. That's it," Tomer Treves said.
Israeli politicians and analysts said Olmert's surprise announcement could force an early national election which opinion polls show could be won by rightist leader, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The morning Israeli newspaper announced an "end to the Olmert era".
Israeli Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog, a member of the left-of-centre Labour party and Olmert's largest coalition partner, supported the premier decision to quit, but warned that it might be difficult for a new Kadima party leader to form a new government.
"We will be in a period of inclarity for the next few months.
There will be, of course, a race within Kadima, and thereafter we will have to see whether one can form a new government; whether the new leader of Kadima will be able to form a government. We in Labour, we said what we prefer: to stabilise the government with a new leader of Kadima. However, personally, I feel it might be too difficult, and if it will not work, we may find ourselves in a process towards elections," Herzog told Reuters Television.
In a televised address to the nation Olmert said on Wednesday (July 30) he had decided he would not run in the Kadima movement primaries, and resign once a new leader would be appointed.
Olmert, who could stay on as a caretaker prime minister for months while a successor struggles to cobble together a new coalition, vowed not to "ease up" on peacemaking "for as long as I remain in office".
The White House said its goal of getting Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to reach a peace deal this year was unchanged.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the negotiations would continue despite Olmert's announcement.
But as an outgoing leader Olmert would lack the political strength to make critical decisions in U.S.-backed peace talks with the Palestinians or in indirect negotiations with Syria, which already show no signs of being close to any breakthrough.
Israeli media said Olmert informed U.S. President George Bush of his decision beforehand, considering the repercussions it could have on peace talks.
Olmert's decision also plunged Israel's fractious political system into uncertainty despite the considerable public pressure he faced for weeks to resign over suspicions he took bribes from an American businessman, and double-claimed for travel expenses.
He has denied any wrongdoing, and vowed in his statements on Wednesday to fight for his innocence.
Israeli opinion polls favour Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Israel's top negotiator with the Palestinians, to win the Kadima leadership contest, scheduled for Sept. 17. Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz, a former defence chief, is close behind. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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