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Last update - 09:57 27/11/2008 Yossi Verter / Livni can't count on him Tags: Olmert, Israel News If Prime Minister Ehud Olmert cared about his party, Kadima, and his successor, Tzipi Livni, he would announce today that he was declaring himself incapacitated and resigning from the Knesset - and allow Livni to take her place as prime minister until the elections. In the 74 days still left until then, Livni could, as acting prime minister, return to the race and close the gap between her and Benjamin Netanyahu of Likud. But Olmert is interested in helping Livni exactly as much as a death row convict wants to help his executioner. As far as Olmert is concerned, let them both fall together. Advertisement The significance of his announcement yesterday is that he is staying until a new government is established in mid-March 2009. And even then, it is not at all clear that deep down in his heart he would not rather pass the keys over in an orderly fashion to Netanyahu. Concerning Netanyahu, Olmert can relax. Bibi will not send the Likud young guard to protest outside the prime minister's residence demanding he go home. If anything, the Likudniks will shout: Olmert stay! Assuming Olmert does continue to serve as the head of the transition government, no significant political changes can be expected. In any case, Olmert is at the end of his rope. Many long weeks will pass before his hearing, and the economic crisis is expected to worsen, drawing most of the frightened public's attention. Livni will continue to struggle with a monkey in the shape of a prime minister from her own party on her back, with an indictment hovering over him and still continuing to insist on conducting negotiations with the Palestinians and the Syrians. Maybe the return of the corruption issue to the election campaign will add a little color to Livni's cheeks, and add a seat or two in the polls, but she cannot depend on it for long. As long as the economic crisis is going strong, Livni will be on the defensive. She can try to draft the Kadima Knesset faction to put pressure on Olmert, but he is not even required to hear them out. He is no longer involved. Politics is beneath him now. In any case, since Livni was chosen he no longer attends faction meetings, and no one can enter his official residence without an invitation. Until the economic crisis broke, it seemed corruption would be at the center of the election campaign, and that was Livni's strength - in fact her only advantage over Barak and Netanyahu. But with the economic crisis, who cares anymore about Rishon Tours. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Signs of al-Qaida Is the global terror network behind the deadly attacks in Mumbai? Denying Nazi links 104-year-old entertainer files lawsuit: It's not my fault Hitler was my fan.

Read & React Conflicting reports emerge on release of Mumbai Chabad center hostages Responses: 114 Mazuz: Olmert indictment possible in Rishon Tours scandal Responses: 46 Ari Shavit: While the Palestinian track fails, let's focus on Syria Responses: 36 Israel Harel: Defense establishment gives enemy hope that Israel's end is near Responses: 40 More Headlines 02:42 Reports differ over release of Mumbai Chabad center captives 02:54 Mumbai attack sends shock waves through Chabad community worldwide 02:57 Yossi Melman / Is al-Qaida behind the Mumbai terror attacks? 02:58 India declines Israeli offer of aid delegation to Mumbai 01:09 IN PICTURES / Mumbai ravaged by deadly terror attacks 22:35 European powers: Iran showing 'utter disrespect' for UN nuclear watchdog 20:58 104-year-old entertainer files lawsuit: It's not my fault Hitler was my fan 00:16 Belgian public broadcaster cancels ad that featured Hitler as a stripper 17:14 Pope to make rare visit to Israel in May, following months of Jewish-Catholic tension 00:32 'I just grabbed the baby and ran,' says Mumbai Chabad employee 23:31 Body of one-day-old baby found in Be'er Sheva dumpster 01:14 Norwegian ex-premier counters anti-Semitism accusations, slams Israel 15:24 Iran missile launch into space was 'publicity stunt,' Israeli experts say 22:52 Ministers and policymakers approve plan to combat economic crisis 16:03 Ultra-Orthodox MK Ravitz announces retirement from Knesset 10:01 Court ruling sees IDF targeted assassinations as last resort Previous Editions Select Day 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 24 nov 23 nov 21 nov 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov 14 nov

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