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Comments:  146
Last update - 10:35 31/07/2008
Olmert to step down in September, vows to push for peace first
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: Kadima, Ehud Olmert, Israel 

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday that he has decided not to contend in the Kadima primary election and would resign as soon as the new party leader was chosen, due to the criminal investigations in which he has been embroiled in recent months.

"I have decided I won't run in the Kadima movement primaries, nor do I intend to intervene in the elections," Olmert said in an official statement to the public
from his residence in Jerusalem on Wednesday evening.
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"When a new [Kadima party] chairman is chosen, I will resign as prime minister to permit them to put together a new government swiftly and effectively," he added.

The prime minister has been under official investigation in recent months over allegations of corruption in his former capacities as Jerusalem mayor and trade minister.

Political sources had expected Olmert to announce that he would not run in upcoming leadership contest in his Kadima party, scheduled for September 17. This decision in effect signals an end to Olmert's political career.

Olmert began the address by saying that despite having been beset by investigations during his tenure, he has improved the situation in Israel and continues to believe that peace is the most important track for the country.

The prime minister went on to say that as long as he was in power, he would work toward this goal of peace.

"I am proud to be the prime minister of a country that investigates its prime ministers," he said. "The prime minister is not above the law, but he is in no way below it."


The two most prominent investigations involve suspicions that Olmert took bribes from American businessman Morris Talansky, and charges he submitted duplicate claims for travel expenses which he allegedly used to fund family trips abroad. He has denied wrongdoing, but said he would resign if indicted.

Olmert's announcement comes a day after Kadima said it had scheduled its leadership vote.

The prime minister's advisers in recent days have split into two groups: those who expect him to continue in his position and resign only if indicted, and those who have been urging him not to run in the primary elections and conclude his term with an air of respect.

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      1.   Left and Right still need Olmert 18:15  |  IsraFan 30/07/08
      2.   His adress will be hes Quiting and Naming Mofaz as PM............ 18:20  |  MOE 30/07/08
      3.   After a very bad start Olmert is finding his way 18:25  |  Natallie Durson 30/07/08
      4.   Olmert - NO MORE SURPRISES - JUST RESIGN 18:30  |  * BEN JABO 30/07/08
      5.   Miracles can happen 18:39  |  Shimon Cleopas 30/07/08
      6.   Nasrallah is not quitting 18:41  |  Aounist 30/07/08
      7.   If it`s that he`s quitting immediately,... 18:49  |  Jason 30/07/08
      8.   Without vision, the people perish 19:03  |  Londoner 30/07/08
      9.   Maybe 19:14  |  Pinchas 30/07/08
      10.   Livni 19:18  |  Pinchas 30/07/08
      11.   A lame duck Olmert ... 19:18  |  Morris Valentine 30/07/08
      12.   #6 Aounist - Nasrallah doesn`t quite, HE HIDES 19:24  |  * BEN JABO 30/07/08
      13.   Shock and Oh! 19:31  |  Shimon Cleopas 30/07/08
      14.   olmerts big surprise announcement 19:37  |  yahn goodey 30/07/08
      15.   Surprise, surprise 19:53  |  Shimon Cleopas 30/07/08
      16.   He will resign and convert to Islam 20:00  |  Fairy 30/07/08
      17.   Finally? Or will he try another of his despicable "tricks?" 20:04  |  bat yam 30/07/08
      18.   Leaving while there is still cash around? 20:20  |  Gideon Reader 30/07/08
      19.   We need parties willing to take an oath 20:21  |  Arie 30/07/08
      20.   its what he is going to do before then we need to worry about 20:28  |  zionist forever 30/07/08
      21.   Time to leave the PM office, Olmert 20:41  |  Eric Voogd 30/07/08
      22.   There Is A God! 20:45  |  Jeff Northridge 30/07/08
      23.   Say Thanks to the Man. Case study is needed and you have time to 20:46  |  Simon Mohammed 30/07/08
      24.   Tenure was a national tragedy 20:48  |  Nathaniel 30/07/08
      25.   Weak puppet....I mean Aounist 20:50  |  Matti 30/07/08
      26.   Well, not too happy with this outcome, but wonder... 20:54  |  Smadar 30/07/08
      27.   To #1 IsraFan - Even Assad refused to take his hand.... 21:06  |  Dagma 30/07/08
      28.   good ridance,and take KADIMA with you 21:14  |  chaim 30/07/08
      29.   Israel compare to UK 21:20  |  tomer 30/07/08
      30.   It doesn`t matter who we pick now... 21:29  |  Dave 30/07/08
      31.   The Next Prime Minister 21:34  |  Shimon Cleopas 30/07/08
      32.   Ruling Israel is`t for the wimp and corrupted good riddance 21:42  |  Simon 30/07/08
      33.   The time has come for TZIPI LIVNI!!! 21:45  |  efman 30/07/08
      34.   #26 - he can`t do anything without the Knesset - he is not a king 21:55  |  redmike 30/07/08
      35.   I`ll quit as PM 21:57  |  Ralph 30/07/08
      36.   Finally, Just Not Soon Enough 22:20  |  Ron 30/07/08
      37.   Note the symbolism... 22:25  |  Smadar 30/07/08
      38.   Homework 22:27  |  Shimon Cleopas 30/07/08
      39.   cancel all agreements 22:28  |  vik 30/07/08
      40.   Morris Valentine # 11 I Don`t Think So 22:28  |  Jeff Northridge 30/07/08
      41.   after clinging on by his fingertips olmerde slips to oblivion 22:34  |  victor hardman 30/07/08
      42.   Natallie 22:36  |  eva 30/07/08
      43.   Saniora should be next so he can join his other Half (olmert) 22:36  |  US person 30/07/08
      44.   He will work for "peace" - Israel Watch Out ! 22:38  |  Tod Zuckerman 30/07/08
      45.   Kadima party want to impose a PM again !! 22:40  |  Freddy 30/07/08
      46.   Olmert 22:52  |  Daisy 30/07/08
      47.   When terrorism becomes convenient for Olmert 23:04  |  Joseph.E Post 3 30/07/08
      48.   To efman (#31) 23:11  |  Morris Valentine 30/07/08
      49.   No reason to be thankful to Olmert (Smadar #26) 23:12  |  Tosefta 30/07/08
      50.   Olmert?s Greek?s Sphings consultation? 23:28  |  H.H.M. 30/07/08
      51.   TAKING OUT THE TRASH 23:39  |  Feeatlast 30/07/08
      52.   Say NO to "a replacement for the replacement!" 23:55  |  Yaakov K. 30/07/08
      53.   To #25 Matti: Najjad is still in power 23:57  |  Aounist 30/07/08
      54.   NOW WATCH THE PRIMARIES SLIDE FORWARD MONTH AFTER MONTH.. 00:21  |  Freethinker 31/07/08
      55.   All Kadima are painted with the Olmert brash. 00:42  |  Akram Zekaria 31/07/08
      56.   Don`t Forget to Shut the Door on YOur Way OUt! 00:49  |  J 31/07/08
      57.   Smadar: it will hardly affect the negotiations negatively - 01:04  |  ivo 31/07/08
      58.   It is clear,Tzipi Livni, is comming! 01:11  |  Sharif Hafez 31/07/08
      59.   Olmert can work at the Nixon Center 01:33  |  W 31/07/08
      60.   EXCELLENT SUMMARY AOUNIST#6 01:38  |  MOSHEH 31/07/08
      61.   Oh no! What will happen to the phony peace process? 01:43  |  (real)peacelover 31/07/08
      62.   #49 Tosefta Well then, many things still up in the air... 02:16  |  Smadar 31/07/08