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Last update - 01:17 15/06/2008 Ramon: Barak ultimatum to Olmert will result in Likud takeover By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel, Ehud Barak  Vice Premier Haim Ramon on Saturday warned that Defense Minister and Labor Party head Ehud Barak's ultimatum to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert - in which he threatened to support the dissolution of the Knesset unless the premier remove himself from power - will result in Likud returning to power. In an interview with Channel 2, Ramon said, "We must prevent the elections tragedy that the Labor Party leader is bringing about. We cannot allow [Likud Chairman] Benjamin Netanyahu to get elected." Ramon said that Barak is repeating the same mistake that brought on a rightist victory in 2001 at the end of his tenure as prime minister, and added that the defense minister's call for Olmert to step down will lead to the same result now. Advertisement Ramon's comments come one day after Barak told activists in his Labor Party on Friday that the current power struggle within the ruling Kadima Party was sabotaging the cease-fire negotiations between Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas. "If this government wasn't overshadowed by the Kadima primaries, a truce agreement with Hamas would have been achieved a long time ago," the Labor Party chairman said in a speech at the party headquarters in Tel Aviv. The Kadima Party, led by Olmert, has been heading toward primary elections since the launch of a corruption investigation against Olmert, who is suspected of having illicitly received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Jewish American millionaire Morris Talansky. "The government is incapable of making decisions in regard to Hamas, Syria, Lebanon, Iran or the United States. All the cabinet discussions are [currently] directed at the media," Barak added. Barak's remarks sparked the ire of Kadima Party members, who described his speech as impertinent, seeing as it was Barak who pushed for primaries in the first place. On Thursday, Barak said that he would call for the dissolution of Knesset and preparation for general elections unless Kadima followed through and expedited its party primaries. "We prefer governmental stability, and if we can build a government that appeals to us in this Knesset, we will consider establishing it together," said Barak. "If not, we will go to elections." Barak said that Labor was still waiting for Kadima to decide whether it will conduct early primaries, and was prepared to call for the dissolution of Knesset by June 25. "First we will hear the decisions from the other side," he said. "If the reality calls for it, we will bring the law to dissolve the Knesset to a preliminary reading." Related articles: Barak to Kadima: Hold primary soon or we'll force elections Kadima leaders jostle to find date for primary; Hanegbi eyes Sept. Kadima chiefs drum up support, as primary approaches Olmert to Kadima: Give me time to prove my innocence Bookmark to del.icio.us   Snoop Dogg in Israel American rapper Snoop Dogg slated to perform in Ramat Gan. Late date Scientists revive 2,000-year-old date seed found at Masada.   1.   The Great Power Struggle that Strangles Israel. 17:51  |  Stephen. 13/06/08   2.   A MINUTE AGO HE WAS SAYING THAT HE IS ATTACKING GAZA. NOW HE IS 17:51  |  db 13/06/08   3.   Barak is the real stumbling block 17:54  |  Jonathan S 13/06/08   4.   Barak Is Correct But hes Also Wrong 18:32  |  Shepherd 13/06/08   5.   BARAK STOP TALKING AND 19:36  |  Robert 13/06/08   6.   Barak perception of the cease-fire --vacate Israel--he is Hamas`s 21:12  |  Sal 13/06/08   7.   Barak - How Many Times Does He Need to Prove His Incompetence ? 21:14  |  Tod Zuckerman 13/06/08   8.   Politics and Hamas Truce 22:22  |  Reid 13/06/08   9.   Ehud Barak remember is our most Decorated Soldierr 22:58  |  Dolly 13/06/08   10.   Response to Dolly # 8 23:31  |  Shepherd 13/06/08   11.   Barak - Never Learns 01:35  |  Tod Zuckerman 14/06/08   12.   I asked this Question once before nobody answered me 09:02  |  netta 14/06/08   13.   To Shepherd # 10 - Old Soldiers..... 09:20  |  Dolly 14/06/08   14.   The Elephant and that Irritating fly...... 10:11  |  The Threadmill 14/06/08   15.   Exactly what is wrong with Israel 22:03  |  Boris 14/06/08   16.   "takeover"? we call them elections! 22:14  |  Jewish State 14/06/08   17.   Hey Ramon -- It`s called DEMOCRACY!!! 22:17  |  Josh 14/06/08   18.   Ramon vs "Rightist victory" in 2001 22:33  |  Vladimir 14/06/08   19.   The Leftist nightmare 22:53  |  Brod 14/06/08   20.   We Can Only Hope ! 22:59  |  Tod Zuckerman 14/06/08   21.   Not a bent shekels worth of difference 23:14  |  Natallie Durson 14/06/08   22.   Ehud Barack is a failed PM, as is Bibi as is Olmert 23:44  |  Baruch Gold 14/06/08   23.   silly durson says: "no difference" between left and right. She... 00:10  |  Vittorio 15/06/08   24.   Reid #8 00:11  |  Brian 15/06/08   25.   WE MUST PREVENT ELECTIONS SUMS UP THIS REGIME PERFECTLY 00:11  |  zionist forever 15/06/08   26.   Reid #8 (corrected) 00:14  |  Brian 15/06/08   27.   11 00:26  |  zionist forever 15/06/08   28.   The dark shade of the Judges 00:27  |  Dr D 15/06/08   29.   We Know that "Etrog" Ramon with Vilan Are on a Campaign 00:44  |  Joseph.E 15/06/08   30.   12 00:45  |  zionist forever 15/06/08   31.   Heaven forbid Israelis should choose who governs us! 02:24  |  Chaim 15/06/08   32.   ramon should decide 02:50  |  jerom 15/06/08   33.   God Forbid we should elect Bibi 03:37  |  Dr. David Feigenbaum 15/06/08   34.   It`s called democracy, you fool 04:16  |  benny 15/06/08   35.   Brian #26 04:22  |  Free Gilad Shalit 15/06/08   36.   If the people want Likud, Why is Ramon against? 05:59  |  Straight Talk 15/06/08   37.   Come on BiBi why aren`t you doing a little bit 07:17  |  Rozz 15/06/08   38.   What a Party - this KADIMA........ 08:22  |  The Threadmill 15/06/08   39.   Likud is the best thing that could happen after Kadima & Labor 08:44  |  Shepherd 15/06/08   40.   Ramon doesn`t get it 12:44  |  ARA 15/06/08   41.   Free Gilad Shalit #35 13:20  |  Brian 15/06/08   42.   ramon, olmert & kadima are terrified of elections! 13:20  |  vladimir 15/06/08   43.   Look who is afraid of democracy? 15:41  |  fred 15/06/08   44.   Israel has a different defenition of public servent than others 16:22  |  zionist forever 15/06/08   45.   Brian asks 16:45  |  jackie 15/06/08

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