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MK Tzachi Hanegbi. (Daniel Bar-On / Jini) Last update - 22:43 31/05/2008 Top Kadima MK calls for elections date to be set By Haaretz Service and Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Ehud Olmert  Senior Kadima MK Tzachi Hanegbi, a close associate of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, on Saturday joined the host of other politicians who have called for general elections to be held, adding that a date should be set for them. "We all wish Olmert success, but it is not possible to stop the political establishment. Elections need to be set at a date which suits our shared interests," Hanegbi said, referring to the corruption scandal in which the prime minister has recently become embroiled. Olmert is under investigation on suspicion of illicitly receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from Jewish-American businessman Morris Talansky. Advertisement Hanegbi, who is the chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said that after the elections a national emergency government should be formed, speaking in an interview on Channel 2. The MK's comments came after Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday demanded that Olmert resign from his post in light of the corruption investigation currently underway against him, and threatened to force early elections if the prime minister did not step aside voluntarily. Hanegbi charged that Barak had committed an inhumane and unfriendly act, adding that, "I cannot accept this public guillotine." "Barak himself has known hard days of the sort Olmert [is enduring]. The last thing that Barak would want to see is the strengthening of Livni. Barak has gambled, and we will know over the passage of time whether he has succeeded," Hanegbi said. While Hanegbi on Saturday claimed that a smear campaign is being orchestrated against Olmert in the media, the MK also said that, "It is impossible to do nothing - a decision must be made in Kadima. Olmert is currently fighting for his legal life, and it's hard for him to devote other efforts. The alternative is to come to a standstill, and this is a thing Olmert would not want. There are more important things than personal interests." Hanegbi explained that he was planning a process that would include the holding of internal primaries in Kadima and the advancing of general elections, which would be followed by the formation of a national emergency government. Vice Premier: Expect general elections by November Vice Premier Haim Ramon, also a close associate of Olmert, on Friday said that he believed that the general elections in Israel would be pushed up to this coming November. Ramon made the comments during an address to the Soref Symposium at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy on Friday. Elections in Israel take place every four years, but only one of the last eight Knesset assemblies completed its full term. Ramon also addressed the issue of the recently renewed indirect negotiations between Israel and Syria, saying that he did not believes the talks would ultimately result in a peace agreement. The comment is in contrast to reports Friday in the London-based Al-Sharq al-Awsat that in their latest round of indirect talks, Israel and Syria made progress on the contentious issues of water, security, borders and normalization of relations. The vice premier also reiterated his support for continuing Israel Defense Forces operations in the Gaza Strip in efforts to end the ongoing Qassam rocket fire against southern Israeli communities, and voiced his opposition to the Egyptian-initiated ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas. Related articles: Police question Olmert on close friend's testimony Israel-Syria talks leave the 'Iranians in shock' Netanyahu: Golan pullout would put Iran on Israel's doorstep Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bad immigrant Hezbollah spy said he acted as a 'Lebanese patriot and a Muslim.' When (he's) in Rome Israel to launch PR campaign against Ahmadinejad visit to UN summit in Rome.   1.   If the UK can hold elections within 6 weeks ... 22:29  |  Bruno 30/05/08   2.   "support for continuing Israel Defense Forces operations.." 23:00  |  Ben K 30/05/08   3.   #1 - even if Olmert goes tomorrow it will take several weeks to 23:17  |  redmike 30/05/08   4.   Livnis new hair cut... 23:30  |  philipp 30/05/08   5.   Tzipi Livni for Israeli PM!!!!!!!! 23:44  |  Avi* 30/05/08   6.   Ramon is a genius (by comarpison) 23:46  |  Natallie Durson 30/05/08   7.   Proof that good things come in threes 23:59  |  Natallie Durson 30/05/08   8.   Ramon 03:35  |  mikeber 31/05/08   9.   Shame 03:46  |  gus 31/05/08   10.   elections 04:51  |  glenna 31/05/08   11.   #2 - it`s do-able - suppose Olmert fell under a bus 07:40  |  Bruno 31/05/08   12.   Olmert is IRRELEVANT NOW....... 13:50  |  Dolly 31/05/08   13.   Olmert is IRRELEVANTnow ...... 15:56  |  Dolly 31/05/08   14.   #4 Phillip; She will take over on interim basis............ 17:03  |  Haham me Bat Yam 31/05/08   15.   Force Olmert Out Now,New Elections In 6 to 8 Weeks Is Fair 20:09  |  Dish It Out 31/05/08   16.   No to national elections now 20:28  |  Tosefta 31/05/08   17.   Garbage in Garbage out! 20:36  |  Paul 31/05/08   18.   Hanegbi wants to try an stall things, but no way ! 20:42  |  redmike 31/05/08   19.   Why Wait till NOVEMBER? 21:07  |  Dagma 31/05/08   20.   Ulterior motives of Hanegbi 21:17  |  Esther 31/05/08   21.   #15 - there are no peace talks and no chance of a PA state 21:37  |  redmike 31/05/08   22.   Legal dirt 21:42  |  Colin 31/05/08   23.   Olmert should `take Leave of Absence` 22:07  |  netta 31/05/08   24.   THIS DURSON MUST HAD GOT A PAY RAISE FOR HER WORK TODAY 22:52  |  HAL TRIPP 31/05/08   25.   "Unity": Thus Speaks Another Kadima MK Under Investigation 23:04  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 31/05/08   26.   #15 Tosefta: Bibi is Last PM to Reach Signed Agreements with Pals 23:13  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 31/05/08   27.   "November" is an OK Time: We Need a Real Campaign Process 23:43  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 31/05/08   28.   Bring back Uzi Landau, for Honesty in Politics 00:07  |  Steve 01/06/08   29.   Well, One Thing Is For Sure... 00:21  |  Jeff Northridge 01/06/08   30.   What is GHASTLY IMPOSTOR #16 afraid of general elections? 00:27  |  Genuine Tosefta 01/06/08   31.   Are you really fooling yourself? (Ovadiah b. Avraham #26) 03:38  |  Tosefta 01/06/08

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