Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., June 08, 2008 Sivan 5, 5768 | | Israel Time: 13:39 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. (Maya Levin / Jini) Last update - 03:43 06/06/2008 PM to Bush, Abbas: I'll weather legal storm, stay in office By Yossi Verter, Barak Ravid, Shahar Ilan, and Jack Khoury Tags: Israel, George W. Bush  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told President George W. Bush and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas this week that he believes he can overcome his legal and political difficulties and stay in his post. It also appears that the push for early primary elections in Olmert's Kadima party have been blocked, and there are difficulties finding a Knesset majority for early elections - both developments that are expected to bolster the Olmert government. During talks with senior figures in Kadima, Olmert said the cross-examination of the chief witness for the prosecution, the American fund-raiser Morris Talansky, will undermine Talansky's credibility and restore a bit of calm in the coalition and political atmosphere. This, Olmert said, should keep him in his post and allow him to continue the peace negotiations with the Palestinians. Advertisement Political sources close to Abbas, and figures on Israel's left, said last night that the Palestinian president had been told these things directly during his meeting with Olmert on Monday, before Olmert's visit to Washington. According to sources close to Olmert, he said similar things during his meeting Wednesday with President Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley. "Now there is another crisis, but I will overcome it," Olmert told the American officials, according to sources close to the prime minister. He promised that "all the processes [peace talks] will continue irrespective of the negotiations - the negotiations with the Palestinians, the handling of the Iranian issue, and also the talks with Syria." However, Olmert had made these statements about his political future before Thursday's Labor ministers' meeting, where a decision was made for the party to support a bill calling for the dissolution of the Knesset, expected later this month. If the bill is approved in a preliminary reading, with the backing of Labor, the Olmert government could be in trouble. The MKs of Meretz and three Arab parties, a total of 15, are inclined to vote against early elections. This would prevent the opposition from achieving a majority in favor of the Knesset's dissolution, if Shas and Labor do not break ranks from the coalition and join the opposition. If Labor, with its 19 MKs, supports early elections, but Shas opposes it, then the two camps will be even with 60 votes each. If Shas, with its 12 MKs, supports early elections and Labor does not, the coalition will have a large majority against the dissolution of parliament. So far, however, none of the Arab parties have made their positions on early elections clear. But a number of political sources in several parties said last night that only a worsening in the security situation - such as an operation in the Gaza Strip - may delay the efforts to dissolve the Knesset. "Defense Minister [Ehud Barak] will not leave his post on the eve of a military operation, or during such an operation," a senior Labor figure said Thursday night. Related articles: Olmert hints major Gaza operation is imminent Olmert aides: Progress made with U.S. on forging common view on Iran Police chief hints Olmert's aides leaked details of Talansky case Bookmark to del.icio.us   Terrorist donuts U.S. Arabs irate over criticism of celebrity cook's kaffiyeh. All the way to hell Rosner's blog: It's Obama's good intentions that pro-Israel activists fear.   1.   The DEVIL`S LUCK goes to the DEVIL...... 17:58  |  Dolly 06/06/08   2.   I`LL Weather the Legal Storm, stay in Office.... 20:00  |  Josephus 06/06/08   3.   I`ll weather the legal storm stay in office 21:20  |  Ehud Olmert 06/06/08   4.   To Ehud Olmert # 3 - That`s smart of you! 22:09  |  dingo dog 06/06/08   5.   olmert et al 22:46  |  alan 06/06/08   6.   So you think you`ll weather the storm Mr. Olmert 22:48  |  netta 06/06/08   7.   Olmert is better than Clinto 23:12  |  * BEN JABO 06/06/08   8.   Mazuz will protect Olmert who has presumably agreed for pal "righ 23:30  |  Absolute Sweden 06/06/08   9.   If Olmert is not forced out of office 00:02  |  Shepherd 07/06/08   10.   Bush to PM -- you will ? Not 02:03  |  Sal 07/06/08   11.   Olmert & Livni must go 03:00  |  ROB SCHWARTZ 07/06/08   12.   Good! Olmert did not get that Extra Day..... 11:25  |  The Threadmill 07/06/08   13.   Ashamed that our Leaders are not Ashamed..... 13:57  |  Dolly 07/06/08   14.   Olmert 13:35  |  Naim S. Mahlab 08/06/08

Read & React Shmuel Rosner: Obama and Jerusalem - did you really believe him? Responses: 47 U.S. proposes trilateral talks with Israel and PA Responses: 25 Defense sources:Talk of major IDF operation in Gaza is premature Responses: 24 Yossi Verter: Mofaz's Iran comment too pricey for party politics Responses: 19 Shlomo Avineri: Not what the Zionist forefathers had in mind Responses: 1 Rosner's Domain Obama and Jerusalem: did you really believe him? Guest: Marrying within the faith isn't racism - it's self preservation Should you mess with the Zohan? (WTR) Poll: Philip Roth, Victor Frankl or Leon Uris? What did Obama say to Joe Lieberman? (WTR) More Headlines 12:50 U.S. proposes trilateral talks with Israel and PA 12:47 Defense official: Mofaz remark on Iran strike is not state policy 08:03 Hamas militant killed, another wounded by IDF fire in Gaza 10:55 Defense sources: Talk of major IDF operation in Gaza premature 08:39 Battered by rockets, Gaza-area kibbutz heads north for Shavuot 05:52 Remembering when our cause was just 12:43 West Bank to be placed under general closure for Shavuot holiday 07:58 Black Jewish filmmaker sets out to capture her identity 11:52 Two people hurt during protest against West Bank separation fence 00:30 Clinton halts presidency bid, endorses Obama 08:34 Conditionally Jewish Previous Editions Select Day 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may

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