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Last update - 23:19 14/07/2008 Despite no confidence vote, Olmert won't dismiss Labor ministers By Mazal Mualem and Zvi Zrahiya, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Knesset, Labor, Israel  Labor lawmakers voted against the government on a round of ministerial appointments Monday, giving strength to a motion of no confidence in the government and risking dismissal by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister's office later in the day, Olmert accused the Labor Party of reneging on previous agreements signed with Kadima, but hinted that he would not make good on his threat to dismiss the ministers if they voted against the government. Dismissing the Labor ministers would have left him without a legislative majority and open the door to early elections. Advertisement By rejecting the appointments of Kadima MKs Ruhama Avraham-Balila and Eli Aflalo as tourism minister and absorption minister respectively, Labor MKs and ministers supported what was declared a no confidence vote at the request of the Likud faction chairman, MK Gideon Sa'ar. Under Israel's law, the government must be dissolved if 61 legislators vote in favor of a no-confidence motion, but the motion was defeated by 47 votes to 42. The outcome of the vote sparked speculation about whether Olmert, who is facing an ever-deepening corruption probe, would dismiss Labor ministers who voted no-confidence, as he had threatened. "We took into account that Olmert might fire us. But we had no choice, we had to show him that we're not afraid of taking an extreme move. Olmert is living on borrowed time. In two months he won't be prime minister anyway," a Labor minister said after the vote. Olmert is enmeshed in a graft scandal that could force him to step down. His Kadima party will hold an internal primary vote in September that could replace him. The veteran politician has denied any wrongdoing but says he will resign if indicted. Despite Labor's opposition, Aflalo's and Avraham Balila's appointments were approved by the Knesset. During a special faction meeting, Labor Chairman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak harshly criticized the prime minister's conduct in regard to what he described as a reneging on previous agreements. According to Barak, "an invisible hand changed all the deals we agreed upon with the prime minister." These deals included the appointment of Labor MK Avishai Braverman to the post of chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee, an appointment which was delayed Monday by the panel. Prior to the vote on Braverman's appointment, Labor Faction Secretary General Eitan Cabel announced that the members of his party would vote against the entire round of appointments. The party decided to oppose the appointments fearing a "parliamentary trick" in which the Knesset House Committee would approve all the appointments and the Finance Committee would later torpedo only Braverman's appointment. The statement Olmert issued after the vote said "The prime minister is committed to appointing [Labor] MK Avishai Braverman to chair the Knesset Finance Committee and will act to ensure the appointment wins approval as soon as tomorrow [Tuesday]. Bookmark to del.icio.us   History undersea Israeli lifeguard stumbles upon ancient relic during morning swim. Elections, Hebrew style U.S. presidential hopefuls use Hebrew to woo the Jewish community.   1.   "No Confidence" 19:54  |  Jack 14/07/08   2.   We are in worst strategic nightmare since the 1967/1973 wars... 20:08  |  bat yam 14/07/08   3.   why dont Israelis act? 21:02  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 14/07/08   4.   @Jack 21:55  |  Ralph 14/07/08   5.   The Rogue State tearing itself apart from inside. 22:30  |  Labhras 14/07/08   6.   Only Way Forward Is With Real New Elections 00:03  |  Living In Rishon 15/07/08   7.   Mazuz needs to indict Olmert now 00:10  |  Kipperraes 15/07/08   8.   response #3, R. Yaakov Lazaros. 01:00  |  sandra chitayat 15/07/08   9.   #5 It`s called Democracy 02:16  |  DesMnsDave 15/07/08   10.   IT`S MUCH WORSE THAN NO CONFIDENCE;IT`S MAD MERT`S INCOMPETENCE 18:19  |  glenna 15/07/08

Read & React VIDEO: Olmert, Assad dodge unwanted handshake in Paris Responses: 49 Obama camp slams New Yorker cover of him in Muslim garb, wife as terrorist Responses: 77 Ahmadinejad: Direct U.S. talks possible in 'near future' Responses: 81 Editorial: Israel-Syria talks must go on, with or without Olmert Responses: 20 Report: One of soldiers held by Hezbollah died during abduction Responses: 20 Rosner's Domain The new 'Obama advisor' problem: Senator Chuck Hagel Attacking Iran to get the world's attention? U.S. pressures Israel: No bombing of Iran (WTR) Poll: The more religious the Jewish voter, the more pro-McCain More Headlines 15:53 Cabinet ratifies Hezbollah prisoner swap deal, 22-3 17:11 Hezbollah: Israel's approval of swap is official admission of defeat 13:22 Report: One of IDF soldiers to be swapped was killed in kidnapping 17:07 Bradley Burston/ The pleasure that Hezbollah takes in torture 09:12 Key witness in Olmert graft probe silent under questioning 13:09 Shin Bet warning of attack causes Blair to nix Gaza visit 09:07 Obama campaign slams New Yorker cover showing him in Muslim garb, wife as terrorist 18:09 VIDEO: Lawyers release first-ever footage of Guantanamo interrogation 16:45 Haifa court convicts man of raping, imprisoning prostitute 09:33 Tremors felt across Israel after 6.8-scale quake hits Greek isle 13:49 Palestinians: IDF arrests three Hamas officials in Nablus raid 13:36 Ex-Olmert aide finally talks to police in real estate probe 14:59 Ex-IDF generals: Is bellicose Israeli prattle on Iran strike necessary? 11:24 Trade Ministry weighs production of electric car in Israel Previous Editions Select Day 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul

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