MIDEAST: Israeli Defence Minister Barak calls upon Prime Minister Olmert to leave office

Record ID: 836495

  • Title: MIDEAST: Israeli Defence Minister Barak calls upon Prime Minister Olmert to leave office
  • Date: 28th May 2008
  • Summary: WIDE VIEW OF PARLIAMENT CORRIDOR WIDE VIEW OF ISRAELI PARLIAMENT MEMBER COLETTE AVITAL OF LABOUR PARTY (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PARLIAMENT MEMBER COLETTE AVITAL, SAYING: "I believe his words were clear, he said exactly what we are about to do. In other words, the prime minister has to draw his own conclusions and leave. Whatever way he decides to leave. Kadima now has to decide who is its new leader (will be). Our preference is to see another government in this Knesset in which we will participate. Should that option fail, we will ask for early elections." OPPOSITION LIKUD KNESSET AND FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER SILVAN SHALOM MEMBER APPROACHING (SOUNDBITE) (English) OPPOSITION LIKUD KNESSET AND FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER SILVAN SHALOM, SAYING: "I think after Barak's statement today we are very close to have an early election. In 2008. I believe that they will take place in November 2008. I am planning to bring my bill for an early election next week or the week after and I believe that I will get a huge majority of the members of the Knesset to call for an early election in this coming November." WIDE OF RIGHT-WING KNESSET MEMBER EFRAYIM EITAM OF NATIONAL UNION PARTY (SOUNDBITE) (English) RIGHT-WING KNESSET MEMBER EFRAYIM EITAM OF NATIONAL UNION PARTY, SAYING: "Every moment that Prime Minister Olmert will continue to be in his office it's a threat for the existence of the state of Israel, so he has to resign immediately."
  • Embargoed: 12th June 2008 13:00
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  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7YGIXXOF56HOZ2CBEINPAI15I
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  • Story Text: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's main coalition partner demanded on Wednesday (May 28) that he leave office over corruption allegations, in political turmoil that threatens to disrupt peace talks with the Palestinians.
    Defence Minister Ehud Barak issued the call -- and raised the prospect of an early election -- a day after an American businessman told an Israeli court how he had handed Olmert envelopes stuffed with thousands of dollars in cash.
    "I do not think the prime minister can simultaneously run the government and deal with his own personal affair, therefore, out of a sense of what is good for the country and in accordance with the proper norms, I think the prime minister must detach himself from the day-to-day running of the government," Barak said.
    "He can do this in any of the ways open to him -- suspension, vacation or resignation or incapacitation. We will not be the ones to determine this."
    U.S. businessman Morris Talansky testified on Tuesday (May 27) that he gave Olmert $150,000 (USD) in cash-stuffed envelopes, including personal loans that were never repaid, over a 15-year period before the veteran politician became Israel's leader.
    Olmert denies any wrongdoing in the corruption case -- saying the money was legitimate campaign funding -- but has pledged to resign if indicted.
    The Prime Minister's office declined immediate comment on Barak's statements.
    Barak stopped short of action that would immediately bring down the government and trigger an election that polls suggest the right-wing Likud under Benjamin Netanyahu would win.
    Commentators noted that Barak failed to make good on similar calls last year for Olmert to go after the 2006 Lebanon war.
    A parliamentary election is not due until 2010. A defection by Labour would almost certainly force an early ballot.
    Various members from Israel's Knesset, representing both the left and right of Israel's political spectrum, called upon Olmert to leave office.
    "I believe his words were clear, he said exactly what we are about to do. In other words the prime minister has to draw his own conclusions and leave," said Israeli parliament member, Colette Avital.
    "I think after Barak's statement today we are very close to have an early election," said Silvan Shalom, a Knesset member from the conservative Likud party.
    "Every moment that Prime Minister Olmert will continue to be in his office it's a threat for the existence of the state of Israel, so he has to resign immediately," right-wing Knesset member Efrayim Eitam of the National Union party said.
    Israeli political analyst Ayala Hasson says Barak's move will force Olmert out from his job.
    "Barak had a meeting with his people and he made up his mind that he is going to announce a kind of an announcement today which won't let Olmert any options but to quit his job. He is not going probably to limit the announcement in a time and Barak is planning two scenarios: One scenario is that he is going with (Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi) Livni, Barak with Livni are going together, Olmert will quit, they are going together to leave the government as it is, Kadima and Avoda (Labour)," Hasson said.
    "I think he is looking forward for elections in Israel around next Autumn or winter. This is the plan," she added.
    Israelis, who have been seen Olmert investigated several times during his tenure as prime minister, were less sure what the future would hold.
    "I think that maybe he shouldn't resign at the moment because Barak did the same thing, I think, he also received money. They all receive money. So let's wait and see what the verdict is and I hope it all work out okay because we we can't have elections again now. It's too soon and it's too much money," said Ester Waxman, a Jerusalem resident.
    "I think that any politician who is charged with criminal acts should resign," added another Jerusalem resident.
    Olmert has not yet been charged with any crime.
    The prime minister has said, however, that he will resign if he is indicted.
    Olmert has acknowledged receiving money from the New York-based businessman but said the funds were legal election campaign contributions.
    His defence attorneys will cross-examine Talansky in July.
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