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Livni Asks Olmert to Quit
 Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni asked Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to quit but he brushed aside calls from her and other leading figures yesterday, acknowledging he was in a difficult position but vowing to fix his mistakes.In other words, he's clinging to power until the absolute bitter end. Olmert won a critical show of support from lawmakers within his ruling Kadima party and forced the blocs parliamentary head to quit two days after an official report blamed Olmert for serious failures in handling a war last year in Lebanon. Kadima as a party's clinging to power in the hope they can pull something off, secure in the knowledge that once they're out they're never going to get in again, at least not until Attention Span Deficit Disorder kicks in. The prime minister enjoyed unprecedented support here, Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres said after three hours of intensive argument among the 29-strong parliamentary caucus. That being the only place he's got any support... The Kadima lawmakers had decided to strengthen the coalition in order to maintain stability in the regime, Israeli media said, with some declaring Olmert the victor in a showdown with the partys deputy leader Tzipi Livni. And Pyrrhus was the victor in his fight with the Romans... Just two hours earlier, Livni had convened a news conference to reveal she had urged Olmert to quit and that she wanted his job. Surely she can't be expecting to hold it for long? I guess "Prime Minister of Israel" is a pretty nice resume entry, but she's going to end up looking like a job hopper. I told the prime minister that I thought to resign was the right thing to do, she told a riveted television audience. Doing the right thing doesn't appear to be at the top of his list, does it? But meeting lawmakers of the centrist party, Olmert, as quoted by a senior official, said: I am in a personally uncomfortable position, but I will not shirk my responsibility and will fix all the mistakes. He's intentionally missing the point that he's the mistake. Kadimas parliamentary leader Avigdor Yitzhaki resigned in protest when Olmert rejected his call to step down. Olmert's ship of state's been hulled. There's water everywhere. Standing foursquare on the deck he hollered at Avigdor: "Y'wanna leave? Then fine! Go ahead and leave!" And Avigdor said: "Hokay." Under Kadimas rules, Olmert cannot be ousted. Under the rules of politix, clinging to power when your time has gone means your party's gonna take it in the shorts. The only course of action is to persuade him to resign or to hold a primary which would take time to organize. Parliament could force Olmert out through a no-confidence vote but there does not yet appear to be a majority to do so. I have no idea why not. At an emergency Cabinet meeting earlier yesterday, where ministers voted to oversee implementation of changes recommended by the commission, Olmert acknowledged personal failings. But he said: I suggest that all those who are in a hurry to take advantage of this report and make political gain slow down. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said he hoped the turmoil in Israel would not set back efforts to restart peace talks. Saeb's licking his chops at the thought of getting as much as possible from negotiations with a powerless government. The two frontrunners to replace Olmert are Livni, 48, and Peres, 83. Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the rightist Likud party, a favorite in opinion polls, could also pose a challenge if Olmerts government is toppled. My guess, which probably doesn't count since I'm not privy to the inner workings of Israeli politix, would be that he'd win in a walk after Olmert's pathetic performance. Some in Kadima, and among key coalition partners, such as the Labor party, have suggested they were sticking by Olmert out of concern of losing significant parliamentary clout if a revolt against him were to bring an early national election. Posted by: Fred 2007-05-03 |
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