Last update - 00:00 01/05/2007
Minister Cabel quits gov't, calls on Olmert to follow his example
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Labor faction whip Eitan Cabel resigned from the government Tuesday, in the wake of the Winograd Committee's partial report on the Second Lebanon War, and called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to do the same.
"The public has lost faith in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert," Cabel said. "I cannot continue to serve as a minister in a government headed by Olmert."
"Ehud Olmert must resign," Cabel continued. "Olmert bears the responsibility, and responsibility cannot be shared."
"I hope, and will act to this end, that my resignation is not just an individual matter, but rather will lead the coalition partners to internalize everyone's obligation to cause Ehud Olmert to resign," he said.
Cabel began the press conference by reading a passage from the report. "The prime minister bears the primary ministerial responsibility for his government's actions, including the decision to embark on the military campaign and its management," he read.
"I sat and read the report all night, and I didn't find anything for the prime minister to hold onto, and continue serving in his position," said Cabel
"There are many affairs that have plagued the government in its short tenure, but the Second Lebanon War and the report that followed overshadow them all," continued the Labor MK.
When asked about his own responsibility for the failures of the war, he said "I am partner [to them]," but added that he "voted for a military operation" and not a war.
The Labor Party's future in the government is in doubt due to both the war probe report and the upcoming party primaries, and officials in the Prime Minister's Bureau are concerned the resignation will signal the party's intention to bolt the coalition following the primaries on May 8, or even earlier.
The Labor party did not release an official statement regarding the partial report. MK Ami Ayalon, who is running for party chairman, also said Tuesday that Olmert must resign. Ayalon had said Sunday that he would consider joining the government, if he is elected party chairman.
In ten days, the Labor Central Committee is due to discuss MK Ophir Pines-Paz's request to bolt the government.
Former prime minister Ehud Barak, who is also a leading candidate for Labor chairman, did not issue a response.
Olmert will hold a series of meetings later Tuesday with his coalition partners in an attempt to stabilize the government.
Olmert will meet Tuesday afternoon with Shas Chairman Eli Yishai, following which he will meet with Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman and Pensioners' Party Chairman Rafi Eitan.
Lieberman and Yishai met Tuesday, and agreed that there is no reason for the prime minister to step down, according to Israel Radio.
The prime minister spoke with the three on the telephone Monday night, and asked them to make an effort to preserve the government's stability.
Yishai met Tuesday morning with Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and presented him with a summary of the Winograd report's findings.
Yosef said in response that it was unfortunate that the government did not accept Shas' proposals for a harsher aerial assault during the war, in order to ease the pressure on the ground forces.
"It's a shame they didn't listen to us," said Yosef. "If they would have listened to us then everything would have been better."