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Israeli Leader Told To Step Down

The Washington Post

Published: May 29, 2008

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's chances of hanging on to power amid a burgeoning corruption probe diminished Wednesday after the leader of his main coalition partner demanded he either step aside or face new elections.

The call by Ehud Barak, Israel's defense minister and head of the Labor Party, is an ominous sign for Olmert as he attempts to weather allegations that he took cash-filled envelopes from an American businessman and used the money on trips, luxury hotels and fine cigars.

The scandal, which sprang up less than a month ago, could end Olmert's beleaguered tenure as prime minister just more than halfway through his four-year term. His premature departure could also short-circuit the Bush administration's stated goal of forging peace between Israel and the Palestinians by the end of 2008.

Barak has the power to topple Olmert's fragile coalition government because without Labor's support, Olmert does not have a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, Israel's parliament. The result of Labor's withdrawal could be early elections.

Citing security threats from Iran and the armed Islamist movements Hamas and Hezbollah, Barak indicated that Olmert's legal problems had become a distraction from his duty to safeguard the country.

"I do not think that the prime minister can simultaneously manage the government and handle his personal issues," Barak said. "Therefore, out of consideration for the best interests of the country and the accepted norms, I believe that the prime minister must detach himself from the day-to-day leadership of the government."

Barak, a former prime minister who aspires to return to the job, said Olmert could step aside temporarily or permanently. He called on Olmert's centrist Kadima party to "do some soul searching," the implication being that it should try to force Olmert's hand.

If it failed to act "as soon as possible," he said, Labor would pull its support. He did not set a deadline. The next general elections in Israel are scheduled for 2010.

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