Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., June 10, 2008 Sivan 7, 5768 | | Israel Time: 18:14 (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

Last update - 03:32 06/06/2008 Olmert tells Bush and Abbas: I will survive political turmoil By Yossi Verter, Barak Ravid, Shahar Ilan and Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Israel, Kadima, Mahmoud Abbas  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 last night Bookmark to del.icio.us   Sign of life Family of abducted IDF solider Gilad Shalit receives new sign of life. Happy Jews San Francisco museum details positive impact of Jews on city.   1.   YES,MERT WILL CONTINUE TO LINE HIS POCKETS;TAKE CARE OF HIS OLD 18:06  |  glenna 10/06/08

Read & React Shalit's father: Gilad begs for his life in new letter Responses: 95 Israeli envoy to London: U.K. has become hotbed of anti-Israeli views Responses: 127 Arab towns to hand out 'Nakba' alternative history booklet outside schools Responses: 67 Top MI officer: Hamas fears broad IDF operation in Gaza Responses: 42 Rosner's Domain Lieberman for VP? Only 18% want it (WTR) On a par with the policies of President Bush Threatening Iran is wrong (WTR) Poll: Philip Roth, Victor Frankl or Leon Uris? Obama and Jerusalem: did you really believe him? More Headlines 17:23 Top MI officer: Hamas fears broad IDF Gaza op 17:03 Olmert: Next U.S. administration may not be as accommodating 15:40 Hamas: IAF strike kills 3 Gaza mortar gunners 17:06 Shalit's father: Gilad begs for his life in new letter 15:24 Mubarak stays away from Med union summit to shun Assad 09:50 Israeli envoy to London: U.K. has become hotbed of radical anti-Israeli views 18:13 Israeli satellite commercial has new star - Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 17:36 Poll: 90% of public believes Israeli leadership rife with corruption 09:41 Congress gets behind Israel's aid request 11:48 Poland loses to Germany in Euro, as 1939 Nazi conquest again makes headlines 14:57 Brothers in 'honor killing' released to house arrest due to legal delays 12:51 Palestinians: Israel transfers delayed tax money, but millions missing 17:56 Arab towns to distribute 'Nakba' alternative history booklet outside schools 11:31 Jewish pilot tapped for U.S. Air Force chief position Previous Editions Select Day 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may

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