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Last update - 09:48 05/05/2008 It's time for Livni By Akiva Eldar Tags: Ehud Olmert As expected, Ehud Olmert stated yesterday at the start of the cabinet meeting that, "I have an agenda as prime minister of Israel, I intend to carry out this agenda, and continue conducting the meetings and performing the tasks I have to do." In other words, he intends to continue the agenda according to which part of his time is spent with investigators and lawyers, and the rest with Mahmoud Abbas and Condoleezza Rice. The State of Israel is confronted with questions of war and peace, the relationship between business and government, issues of society and welfare, and all the while it is led by a person who spends a great deal more time with police officers than in meetings with a number of his ministers, and who, had he not been a VIP, would be spending all his time in the interview rooms of the National Fraud Squad. It is doubtful whether a democracy with "normal" problems would be able to function with a serial criminal suspect at the top of its government. It is no less doubtful that a "normal" person could perform in a reasonable manner, when his mind is preoccupied by the investigation being conducted against him. The public-political, security and economic functions of the prime minister leave him without even a week to deal with the private issues that burden him. Even more so in a country that has to deal with challenges that can be termed existential. Serious people, including important figures from the left who met recently with Olmert, got the impression that the prime minister is aware of the rapid deterioration in the standing of the pragmatists in the territories, of the growing Iranian hegemony in the Middle East, and of the short period left in the Bush administration. To some he said that, as early as the Knesset's summer recess, he intends to present to the public a framework for final-settlement agreements on two tracks - the Palestinian and the Syrian. Formally, the prime minister is innocent until proven otherwise and retains all his authority. The minute the investigators left his home, he was entitled - he was obliged - to make decisions on every issue placed on his desk. For example, the adoption of the hudna and the Shalit deal, versus the occupation of the Gaza Strip and risking the life of the abducted soldier. But in a state that claims to be a model democracy, formal authority is not enough. In order to decide on a serious diplomatic issue, not to mention a military operation that involves risking people's lives, a leader requires moral authority. Advertisement Even before the news of the investigation and the new suspicions against Olmert, the prime minister was suspected of linking his diplomatic moves to his own survival. The lack of clarity surrounding the current investigation is only feeding the rumors and further eroding the trust the public places in a leader who is the subject of so many police-issued warnings. The damage caused by the "untouchable" Ariel Sharon, and the unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, is still fresh in the collective memory. Many months separate the start of a criminal investigation against a senior public figure and a decision by the attorney general on whether to file charges or close the case. The residents of Sderot do not need to spend Israel's 60th Independence Day in reinforced rooms, and the residents of the Gaza Strip do not need to sit in the dark because Olmert is finding it difficult to decide how to act on the cease-fire agreement that Egypt has cobbled together after hard work with the Palestinian groups. They do not need to wait for the Knesset to decide to disband the plenum and set a date for new elections. According to all surveys (even before the newest investigation broke), early elections would allow Benjamin Netanyahu to set up a coalition with Avigdor Lieberman, Effi Eitam and Arcadi Gaydamak. But besides the possibilities of allowing a prime minister under police warning - a PM who has lost the public's trust - to hold on to his seat, or go to early elections that will bury the fragile negotiations with the Palestinians, there is another option: Upon the dissolution of the government, the president could assign Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni the task of forming a new government. Livni has made a name for herself as a clean and responsible politician. She is commited to the things she said last July at a Jerusalem conference - that every day that passes delays the two-state solution and endangers the existence of Israel as a Jewish democracy. Once, after the release of the Winograd Committee's interim report, Livni rescinded her demand that Olmert step down and wasted a significant part of her reputation. If the deputy prime minister bows her head once more, she will become just another small politician. This time, her colleagues in Kadima and her partners in Labor are not entitled to leave her on her own. Bookmark to del.icio.us   A top priority Barack Obama: We will keep Israel's security a priority. Tale of a key Cartoon film on Nakba describes Jews as 'enemies of homeland'.   1.   IS THAT ALL YOU GOT ISRAEL? 09:52  |  indrajaya 05/05/08   2.   Mr Eldar said how he votes. Let others vote 10:17  |  Vladimir 05/05/08   3.   No Aces 10:20  |  Clickfool 05/05/08   4.   Israel adopting the U.S. "disease" (or vice versa ???)..... 10:22  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/05/08   5.   Akiva Eldar has done more to defer peace than bibi 10:30  |  Dr Eric 05/05/08   6.   Not two shekels worth of difference 10:32  |  Natallie Durson 05/05/08   7.   Israel needs Bibi!! 10:38  |  Dr Eric 05/05/08   8.   The people elects PM not Ha`aretz 10:45  |  Shlomo 05/05/08   9.   The Editorial and Uzi Benziman`s op-ed 10:49  |  Yonatan 05/05/08   10.   Netanyahu, Lieberman, Eitam? 10:50  |  Rowan 05/05/08   11.   For Dr Eric # 5 11:00  |  Clickfool 05/05/08   12.   Olmert must step aside 11:04  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 05/05/08   13.   time to get legal and include jordan 11:05  |  v hardman 05/05/08   14.   # 4 to dr. eric 11:21  |  eric 05/05/08   15.   #14 eric still peeping from under a stone 11:43  |  v hardman 05/05/08   16.   # 4, SWISS (DINO) 11:43  |  indrajaya 05/05/08   17.   If Eldar wants Livni I definately would not want her now. 11:44  |  Zev 05/05/08   18.   Olmert will not volunteer to leave. Eldar support of Livni speaks 11:57  |  Registered Nurse 05/05/08   19.   "... a leader requires moral authority...." 12:00  |  Esther 05/05/08   20.   eric - 67 borders will never happen!!!! 12:05  |  Dr eric 05/05/08   21.   to clickfool - STOP SUPPORTING hate!!! 12:08  |  Lisa 05/05/08   22.   Doctor Eric tells the truth 12:14  |  Rowan 05/05/08   23.   # 16 indrajaya 12:31  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/05/08   24.   If Livni`s statement in July is honest then SHE must be PM. 12:59  |  Avi. 05/05/08   25.   SWISS DINO: fingerprinting is out-of-date in wealthy Arab states! 13:27  |  AliciaYasmeen 05/05/08   26.   #2,3,4 13:37  |  Hilda 05/05/08   27.   Tzipi Livni: The "Brand" That No One Needs 13:44  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 05/05/08   28.   Get it right, Lisa # 21 13:46  |  Clickfool 05/05/08   29.   LIVNI AND OLMERT ARE BOTH DEFEATIST LEFTIST LOSERS 13:47  |  Robinson 05/05/08   30.   No More "Switcharoo": Elections Now!! 13:59  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 05/05/08   31.   Hopefully Bibi 14:00  |  rich 05/05/08   32.   # 25 AliciaYasmeen 14:03  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/05/08   33.   Eric in NM 14:07  |  rich 05/05/08   34.   # 26 Hilda 14:15  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/05/08   35.   Olmert should not resign 15:30  |  Tosefta 05/05/08   36.   It`s time for Livni to go also. New elections NOW! 15:36  |  Chaim 05/05/08   37.   REMOVE OLMERT FOR SDEROT CHILDREN`S SAKE AND ISRAEL`S SECURITY))) 15:36  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 05/05/08   38.   TIME FOR DAUGHTER OF TERRORISTS 16:04  |  JH 05/05/08   39.   To JH # 38 - You must be dreaming ..... 16:54  |  Dolly 05/05/08   40.   dino how perceptive of you to realise that the terrorists 16:59  |  x-ray 05/05/08   41.   Olmert/Livni 17:00  |  Nemesis 05/05/08   42.   Its time for all the Kadima morons to get lost 17:05  |  Sal 05/05/08   43.   Akiva Eldar mistaken - the experience & stamina of Ehud Olmert is 17:29  |  Smadar 05/05/08   44.   Wrong to presume that OLMERT will leave...... 17:35  |  Natasha 05/05/08   45.   Livni -no thanks 17:45  |  Angel 05/05/08   46.   Eldar` Condemnation of Bibi Means Israel Desperately Needs Him 18:09  |  Tod Zuckerman 05/05/08   47.   To Dr Eric 18:19  |  Serenity 05/05/08   48.   Nothing is Worse than the TREASON of SURRENDERING Half of Israel 18:20  |  Linda Rivera 05/05/08   49.   where is 18:24  |  diane cohen 05/05/08   50.   Eldar is wrong 18:30  |  Brod 05/05/08   51.   DOLLY, ISRAEL IS A NATION OF LAND THIEVES. 18:36  |  JH 05/05/08   52.   # 1 Idrayaja better hope Livni, Cuase I Hope Netenyahu 19:19  |  Robert/Montreal 05/05/08   53.   to Dr Eric 19:21  |  FREE MAN 05/05/08   54.   JH#51 What a crap! 19:22  |  Brod 05/05/08   55.   We have it right Click Louse 19:22  |  PantherJet 05/05/08   56.   Natalie#6 Have you any news on the free California Movement? 19:24  |  Robert/Montreal 05/05/08   57.   Left hates and fears Democracy 19:43  |  JoJo 05/05/08   58.   JH #51 How sad I AM YOUR HEAD IS IN THE SAND 19:48  |  ROBERT/MONTREAL 05/05/08   59.   Livni is Olmert in a dress and bad news 19:54  |  zionist forever 05/05/08   60.   I wouldnt elect Livni as dog catcher never mind PM 20:14  |  pace306 05/05/08   61.   59# zionist forever. You are excellent in all that 20:19  |  Akram Zekaria 05/05/08   62.   @Swiss Dino 20:19  |  Ralph 05/05/08   63.   51 20:21  |  zionist forever 05/05/08   64.   OVER 500 ARAB VILLAGES AND TOWNS DESTROYED IN 1948 20:42  |  JH 05/05/08   65.   What a Big Surprise! 20:49  |  Gary S. 05/05/08   66.   NO JUST GOD WOULD FAVOR THE ZIONISTS 20:53  |  JH 05/05/08   67.   #66: It is Islam that Attacked the Jews on Yom Kippor 21:09  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 05/05/08   68.   #5 Dr. Eric 22:18  |  Jim 05/05/08   69.   MEANWHILE.TV Childs` Puppets Vow to Return to Israeli Cities 22:28  |  PETER SM 05/05/08   70.   Religiosity will be the death of zionism 22:29  |  Rowan 05/05/08   71.   AVRAHAM, ENOUGH ATTACKS FROM EVERYONE 22:32  |  JH 05/05/08   72.   #6 Natlie Durson 22:36  |  Jim 05/05/08   73.   #7 Dr. Eric 22:45  |  Jim 05/05/08   74.   # 62 Ralph 22:56  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/05/08   75.   #71 JH of Concord 23:15  |  Robert/Montreal 05/05/08   76.   JH WHY DON`T YOU SEE WHAT HAMAS IS TEACHING THEIR CHILDREN 23:21  |  PETER SM 05/05/08   77.   For Panther Jet # 55 23:21  |  Clickfool 05/05/08   78.   #51JACK HASS OF CONCORD AND MORE OF THE SAME 23:30  |  v hardman 05/05/08   79.   For Cipora # 12 23:31  |  Nissim Wiener 05/05/08   80.   JH isn`t time to talk about the Jews killed&expelled by Arab war 01:40  |  PETER SM 06/05/08   81.   #70 Rowan. Do you really believe Judaism & Zionism are at odds? 02:11  |  Chaim 06/05/08   82.   Why is Livni better ? 02:12  |  Truth 06/05/08   83.   28 Clickfool`s typicak anti semitic response 02:14  |  leo 06/05/08   84.   Peter Sm and lies 02:16  |  Truth 06/05/08   85.   Why Bibi must be the next PM 02:18  |  leo 06/05/08   86.   Livni; Olmert; Ehud Barak and Peretz are unfit to lead Israel. 03:00  |  Rozz 06/05/08   87.   #42 (?) Sal Turin 03:05  |  Rozz 06/05/08   88.   TRUTH .Your claim versus Clinton..He was there!!! 03:14  |  PETER SM 06/05/08   89.   TRUTH.GOLDSTEIN was NOT the elected govt.He was condemned 03:24  |  PETER SM 06/05/08   90.   Not exactly the most thrilling of choices, is it? 03:30  |  Johnboy 06/05/08   91.   The Israelis are land thieves and land grabbers. Here is a fact: 03:31  |  Jassim 06/05/08   92.   Peter Sm and murder 04:18  |  Truth 06/05/08   93.   JASSIM here is a fact. Abraham was the first Jew 04:29  |  PETER SM 06/05/08   94.   "TRUTH"CLINTON & Nabil Amr of the PA& Most Europe blamed Arafat 04:37  |  PETER SM 06/05/08   95.   "TRUTH" a ceasefire/Hudna is for Hamas to rearm& attack 05:21  |  PETER SM 06/05/08   96.   Peter Sm and Arafat 05:24  |  Truth 06/05/08   97.   Leadership and followership 06:14  |  Morris Valentine 06/05/08   98.   Truth is that you are an armchair tourist 06:14  |  Panther Jet 06/05/08   99.   The truth about Abu Amar 06:41  |  Panther Jet 06/05/08   100.   # 20 to dr. eric 07:57  |  eric 06/05/08   101.   # 33 how silly of you, rich in london 08:26  |  eric 06/05/08   102.   i DID want to say though...that livni would be the best choice 08:29  |  eric 06/05/08   103.   Extremist Eldar is afraid of the Jews!!! 08:37  |  Rick Greenberg 06/05/08   104.   "TRUTH" The ONLY truth is what your people say in Arabic. 08:46  |  PETER SM 06/05/08   105.   #79, Nissim Wiener, legalities, morality & probity 08:51  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/05/08   106.   Livni is unacceptable 09:07  |  Moshe 06/05/08   107.   # 20 to dr. eric (2nd try) 11:32  |  eric 06/05/08   108.   # 33 how silly of you, rich in london (2nd try) 11:32  |  eric 06/05/08   109.   Linvi & Olmert must both resign they are defeatists 07:27  |  ROB GOTTESMAN 12/05/08

Read & React Israel on alert despite playing down fears of war with Hezbollah Responses: 36 Police suspect money transferred to PM outside campaign season Responses: 11 Akiva Eldar: If Bush was really Israel's friend, he'd stay home Responses: 3 Haaretz TV: Religious homosexuals contend with self-hatred and Haredi condemnation Responses: 5 More Headlines 08:19 Police suspect money transferred to PM outside campaign season 09:20 In Talansky case, Olmert's bonds with cronies beginning to crack 08:58 Israel on alert despite playing down fears of war with Hezbollah 09:25 Olmert, Mubarak to meet 'within weeks'; Suleiman here today 09:00 Qassam hits Ashkelon school zone just before children arrive 09:40 Presidential conference to have 13 heads of state, 3500 guests and one Shimon Peres 05:24 International Writers Festival opens in Jerusalem 02:49 Despite construction freeze, winery rises near W. Bank outpost 07:14 Trapped between Israeli bureaucracy and limited customers 07:12 Avram Grant's plan: Settling the score in Russia 02:50 Lieberman: I'd join Netanyahu gov't if I received defense post 05:44 Palestinian refugees, Israeli left-wingers mark Nakba Previous Editions Select Day 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may 30 apr 29 apr 28 apr

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