Olmert refuses to take leave of absence
After being called upon by Kadima chairwoman to suspend himself due to indictment to be filed against him, prime minister says he has 'important things to do', while his associates blame Livni for putting political interests before that of state
"I have important things to do," the prime minister said after leaving a meeting he held on the financial crisis with Opposition Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu and the coalition factions. Netanyahu had agreed to support the government's economic plan.
After the announcement a senior official in the Kadima Party denounced Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and told Ynet that "it appears Olmert has signed a treaty with Netanyahu against Livni." The official spoke after Olmert praised Opposition Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu for his support of the government's economic plan.
"I want to thank the opposition chairman for his support for the government on the economic issue. There is no doubt we must extract political controversy from this debate," the prime minister said.
Olmert said he believed Livni and the Kadima MKs were taking advantage of the announcement made by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, who said he planned to indict the prime minister on the accusations against him in the Rishon Tours double billing affair.
Olmert's affiliates said Livni's interest in seating herself on the prime minister's seat before the national elections in February is what drove her to call for Olmert's suspension. The sources claimed the Kadima chairwoman wanted a chance to prove to the public she could handle the job, despite her recent inability to assemble an alternate government.
Earlier Thursday the Kadima chairwoman said there was "no other option" for Olmert, and that he had to temporarily resign from office.
"In 1977 Rabin did not hesitate and immediately announced he was taking a leave of absence. The PM, just as any other citizen, is innocent until proven guilty, but the citizen Ehud Olmert must conduct the battle (to clear his name) from home and not from his Knesset seat," said Livni, who replaced Olmert as Kadima chief following the September 17 primary elections," she said.
"Israel cannot accept one more day in which he is acting as prime minister. It is a moral and practical trial (for the country). It is important that Kadima make its position known on a day like today."
But Olmert's affiliates insisted that Livni and Kadima were putting their own interests before that of the public and the political stability required at this stage. They claimed the global financial crisis and the security situation in the north and south necessitate constancy until the election.
"This country needs to continue to conduct itself. There is no room for the prosecution's issues of prestige, especially after the blow it received from the Talansky and Katsav affairs, nor is there room for the political needs of other officials," an associate of the prime minister said.
"The prime minister returned from Washington directly to serious debates on the economic crisis. He needs to take care of security issues and plans to continue to lead the Israeli government, as was determined, until the elections are finalized."
