Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., January 31, 2008 Shvat 24, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:44 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert speaking on Monday. The PM rejected the idea of holding early elections. (Daniel Bar-On / Jini) Last update - 12:46 29/01/2008 Sources: Olmert rejects Labor talk of early elections By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: elections, Ehud Olmert  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has no intention of setting a date for early elections together with Labor Chairman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, sources close to the prime minister said Monday. They were responding to predictions by Labor politicians that Barak would respond to the Winograd Committee's full report on the Second Lebanon War, due out Wednesday, by working to advance the elections to early 2009. The premier's associates said Olmert has no intention of turning himself into a lame duck by advancing the elections. Moreover, they argued, early elections would paralyze the country, damage the economy and destroy the peace process, which Labor supports. Advertisement "How would it be possible to advance the diplomatic process when everyone would be wanting to sharpen his positions?" demanded one of Olmert's associates. "Our negotiating partner would also understand that it is impossible to reach an agreement with a prime minister whose days are numbered." Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef made a supporting phone call to Olmert on Tuesday, telling the prime minister not to "fear or be terrified, for I am with you," in reference to the release of the Winograd report on Wednesday. Earlier this week, Shas' Council of Torah Sages said the party would quit the government if talks with the Palestinian Authority began on the issue of Jerusalem. The message by Olmert's associates was part of the premier's preparations for the political battle that will erupt, he expects, after the Winograd report is published. His main fear is that Barak will yield to public pressure and keep the promise he made during his primary campaign last year - that after the full Winograd report is released, he will work to either replace Olmert or advance the elections. Without Labor, Olmert has no Knesset majority. Olmert's associates insisted that the premier opposes early elections out of "national responsibility," not narrow political interests. "If we entered an election year now, the meaning would be inability to govern and to manage the affairs of state in a considered, responsible fashion, because the entire political system would be busy with electioneering, spin and populist bills," another associate argued. Moreover, they said, elections - and the profligate spending known as "election economics" that usually accompanies them - would cost the state tens of millions of shekels. Olmert and his associates have refrained from personal attacks on Barak, but other members of Olmert's Kadima party have been doing the dirty work for them. Senior Kadima MKs charged Monday that Barak favors early elections for personal reasons and is disregarding the national interest. Kadima MKs have also been warning that early elections would lead to a rightist government led by Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu, in a coalition with Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu and a new party led by businessman Arcadi Gaydamak. "Barak needs to realize that he would bring Bibi [Netanyahu] to power," said one. "That's the meaning of early elections." Olmert, in his address to the Kadima faction Monday, urged its MKs to keep calm about the Winograd report. "We've faced challenges in the past, and we'll face challenges in the future as well," he said, adding that Kadima "should lead Israel for many years to come." Likud members, meanwhile, responded to fears of a Netanyahu-Lieberman-Gaydamak government by pointing out that, for months, Netanyahu has been talking about establishing a unity government after the elections, and he plans to invite every Zionist party in the Knesset to join such a government. In response to Kadima's argument about the importance of political stability, Likud MKs countered that a government "must reflect the will of the public," as one put it. "This will be the case only after new elections, since the Olmert-Barak government no longer represents most of the public." Barak on Monday reiterated his mantra that he will decide what to do only after reading the report. He is expected to announce his decision only next week. In the meantime, three Labor MKs who favor quitting the government unless Olmert resigns - Eitan Cabel, Ophir Pines-Paz and Danny Yatom - are trying to mobilize support within the Labor Party for their stance. For full coverage of the Winograd report, log on to Haaretz.com on Wednesday Related articles: The Winograd Report / Olmert fires back at Barak, who is off to France PM works to pre-empt Labor revolt ahead of Winograd report Kadima Council to meet amid fears of early election, PM ouster Bookmark to del.icio.us   Painful lessons The IDF has already learnt lessons of the Second Lebanon War. Brothers in guilt 'We are all guilty; is an effective summary of the final Winograd report.   1.   Israel Needs Another Ben Gurion, but...Is One Available? 03:27  |  Dave Levy 29/01/08   2.   Israel needs ANOTHER Prime Minister.....THEY ARE THERE. 04:44  |  Theodore 29/01/08   3.   The Truth Is Israel Needed New Elections Months Ago 04:58  |  Kipperraes 29/01/08   4.   THE ANSWER IS MOSHE FEIGLIN 05:26  |  Rob 29/01/08   5.   always grinning 08:24  |  dave s. 29/01/08   6.   Olmert should never have been Prime Minister 08:41  |  Zev 29/01/08   7.   Change of Gov`t Only If Aushwitz Borders Process is Rejected 08:46  |  Joseph . E 29/01/08   8.   How can Olmert Gov`t ignore Amalek call for Israel` Obliteration 08:50  |  Joseph . E 29/01/08   9.   save ther money lets have a coup in israel 09:18  |  v hardman 29/01/08   10.   Drowsed By Goebbels Medias, Israel Leadership Lack Rational Think 11:49  |  Joseph . E 29/01/08   11.   Winning Friends and Influencing People.... 13:10  |  Dagma 29/01/08   12.   OLMERT? or ISRAEL.... which? 13:24  |  Onlooker 29/01/08   13.   Olmert rejects Labor talk of early elections 13:45  |  Sam Popack 29/01/08   14.   It`s AMAZING ! 13:47  |  Dolly 29/01/08   15.   "...the premier opposes early elections... 16:00  |  bat yam 29/01/08   16.   He is consistent 16:02  |  trumpeldor 29/01/08   17.   Most corrupt government since Israel founded! 16:04  |  common sense 29/01/08   18.   It should be remembered that this vile man was responsible for 16:36  |  tisha b`av 29/01/08   19.   Israel would be paralysed?? 18:02  |  CML 29/01/08   20.   To common sense # 17 Only Corrupt.....? 18:04  |  Natasha 29/01/08   21.   COMMON SENSE # 17 - OLMERT Please go 18:10  |  arrabella 29/01/08   22.   Winograd Committee Report 00:45  |  The Director 31/01/08   23.   Winograd Committee Report part 2 00:59  |  The Director 31/01/08

Today Online Ahmadinejad tells West: Accept Israel's 'imminent collapse' Responses: 279 Winograd: Final ground op 'did not achieve military goals' Responses: 93 Amira Hass: Finally, there's a popular uprising in Gaza Responses: 85 UN envoy: Gaza women feel coerced into covering heads Responses: 92 High Court okays cutting fuel and power to Gaza Responses: 104 Rosner's Domain The campaign for Darfur has achieved all its goals - but one Rosner's Guest: Israelis do not know enough about Jewish Diaspora Jewish vote in Florida: 58% for Clinton (WTR) Poll: Is there a "constant virulent campaign" against Obama? Back to divestment from Israel (WTR) More Headlines 22:10 Kadima rallies around Olmert, urges Barak to stay in gov't 22:01 Winograd: Final ground op 'did not achieve military goals', but approving it was essential step 03:22 Protest movement seeks to get to Olmert through Barak 18:59 ANALYSIS: IDF has already learnt lessons of Second Lebanon War 22:59 ANALYSIS: Winograd Committee report says 'we are all guilty' 22:03 German cabinet will visit Israel to mark Jewish state's 60th year 02:42 Giuliani quits Republican presidential race, endorses McCain 19:28 Egyptian police kill two Africans during bid to cross into Israel 02:22 Jerusalem officials praise public's response to snowstorm 17:13 High Court okays reducing fuel and power supply to Gaza Strip 20:50 Hezbollah: War report will corner Olmert, make him lose credibility 20:07 Israel to send thousands of vaccines to Gaza after border breach Previous Editions Select Day 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan

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