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Last update - 05:20 23/06/2008 Olmert: I'll fire Labor ministers who try to topple government By Mazal Mualam and Haaretz Service Tags: Labor Party, Ehud Barak  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert threatened on Sunday to fire cabinet ministers from the Labor Party, his main coalition partner, if they backed a parliamentary move to topple him over a corruption scandal, officials said. Ejecting Defense Minister Ehud Barak's Labor Party from the government would leave Olmert without a legislative majority and open the way for an early election likely to disrupt Israel's peace talks with the Palestinians. Barak, a former prime minister, has said he expected Labor would support in a preliminary vote in the Knesset on Wednesday legislation proposed by the opposition Likud party to dissolve the Knesset - a process that could stretch past a summer recess. Advertisement Government officials said Olmert handed out notes to Labor ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting, saying he would find it very difficult to continue to have them in the government if they voted for the measure. "Olmert is saying to Barak, 'I dare you'," one official said. Following the meeting, a senior minister from the Labor Party said that the prime minister's threats were a political gift. Those close to Ehud Barak claimed that he did not change his standing despite the threats. After the meeting, the Labor ministers said that if Olmert wants to go to elections, dismantle Kadima, and forfeit political stability and developments, then he can go ahead. "It is his responsibility", they commented, adding that the responsibility at present belongs to the senior members of the Kadima party - Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who will likely both vie for the post of prime minister. Earlier Sunday, Olmert's strategic advisor Tal Zilberstein told Army Radio in an interview that the Labor minsters couldn't continue to sit in the government if they vote in favor of the law on Wednesday. Political commentators said dismissal from his defense ministry post and an early election could backfire on Barak and center-left Labor. Opinion polls show Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud, widely seen as tough on terror, winning a national vote. Olmert is under police investigation over money he received from Jewish American businessman Morris Talansky, who testified he gave the veteran politician $150,000 over a 15-year period. Olmert and Talansky have denied any wrongdoing, but the prime minister has pledged to resign if indicted. Barak has called on Olmert to step aside over the corruption allegations. Yuli Tamir to Labor: Enough hesitation During the Labor Party meeting immediately preceding the government meeting, ministers Yuli Tamir, Ghaleb Majadele and Ami Ayalon offered objections to supporting the dissolution of the Knesset. They claimed that the matter had to be decided by the party. Tamir called a Labor Central Committee conference in order to make a decision concerning the continuation of Labor's standing in the government. "You have to offer a clear ultimatum and not hesitate; you need to stop blinking", said Tamir, attacking chairman of the Labor Party, Ehud Barak. The Education Minister emphasized that if by the new year, Kadima has not replaced Ehud Olmert at its helm, the Labor Party will have to quit the coalition without doubt. Barak said during the meeting that he stuck to the pronouncements made three weeks ago, claiming it is necessary to impose new public political norms. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Justice for Jews London summit focuses on plight of Jewish refugees from Arab states. No place like home Poll: 77% of Israeli Arabs would rather live in Israel than in any other country.   1.   Meanwhile, in the basement 17:31  |  Mark Lincoln 22/06/08   2.   Israel will be attacked by Iran with Olmert in office 18:10  |  Dror 22/06/08   3.   Labor party is also immoral 18:24  |  Dror 22/06/08   4.   it is high time to get rid of this traitorous pathetic coward 18:29  |  chaim 22/06/08   5.   Olmert Your Not Wanted Get Use To That Already 18:32  |  Dish It Out 22/06/08   6.   If they will they will finally all get lost collectively 18:41  |  Sal 22/06/08   7.   Toppling government 18:52  |  Brod 22/06/08   8.   #2 Please fire Labor ministers! Elections NOW! 19:08  |  DesMnsDave 22/06/08   9.   please do so mr. olmart 19:10  |  joki 22/06/08   10.   Give Olmert a chance 20:25  |  Wellington Okereh 22/06/08   11.   #10You are on waay to many pharmaceutical cocktals there dude! 20:43  |  Rueben 22/06/08   12.   No pleasure in this stupid game 21:19  |  Dror 22/06/08   13.   Olmert`s last supporter? 21:31  |  Realist 22/06/08   14.   Godfather Olmert...... 21:32  |  Dagma. 22/06/08   15.   You can do it Olmert 21:48  |  fred 22/06/08   16.   Peace Talks with Palestinians that important....... 22:04  |  Pathfinder 22/06/08   17.   Olmert 22:04  |  Jack Oscoda 22/06/08   18.   To Jack Oscoda # 17 - Olmert was NEVER E 22:39  |  Dagma 22/06/08   19.   To Jack Oscada # 17 - Olmert was NEVER elected 22:48  |  Dagma 22/06/08   20.   Olmert Will Never Make Peace 23:02  |  MR 22/06/08   21.   Olmert should be counting his Days as PM.... 23:28  |  charlie 22/06/08   22.   Olmert 23:28  |  Sick-of-him 22/06/08   23.   Question for Dagma 23:41  |  Realist 22/06/08   24.   Hope the Labour Ministers are patriotic enough to let go 23:52  |  AliciaYasmeen 22/06/08   25.   Israel needs a law to fire a PM people are not happy with 23:56  |  AliciaYasmeen 22/06/08   26.   The Last Straw for Olmert.......to stay in Power 00:50  |  Onlooker 23/06/08   27.   Labor and Peace. 02:44  |  Daniel Garcia 23/06/08   28.   Olmert: I`ll fire Labor ministers who try to topple government 09:43  |  Gerald Zang 23/06/08   29.   STOP THE PIECE TALKS BY RIDDING MERT AND THEN YOU WILL STOP THE 05:50  |  glenna 24/06/08

Read & React Shmuel Rosner: Why do U.S. non-Jews back Israel? Responses: 266 IDF: Israel may declare two soldiers captured by Hezbollah 'killed in action' Responses: 83 Amir Oren: Israel may conclude that it's time to hit Iran by autumn Responses: 144 Sarkozy: There won't be Middle East peace without Syria talks Responses: 60 Haaretz.com TV: East J'lem Arabs pay taxes, lack running water Responses: 38 Rosner's Domain New Guest: Israel should've continued blockade of Gaza The meaning of anti-Americanism in the Arab world (WTR) Why do non-Jewish Americans support Israel? Poll: exchange deal with Hezbollah, good or bad? Will we see a record number of Jewish lawmakers? (2) More Headlines 01:56 IDF: Israel may declare two soldiers captured by Hezbollah killed in action 03:31 Court rejects Shalit petition 20:09 London summit focuses on plight of Jewish refugees from Arab states 04:16 Jewish Agency launches plan to attract Western hi-tech engineers 04:15 Families of abducted soldiers tell Olmert, Barak: We've waited enough 05:39 Labor Party to support disbanding the Knesset 04:39 Beijing 2008 / Israel sending 38 athletes to Olympics 05:20 Israelis never excelled as mercenaries 02:44 U.S. weighs opening interest section in Tehran 01:13 McCain disavows aide comment that terror attack would help GOP 01:43 EU states back new sanctions on Iran over nuclear program Previous Editions Select Day 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun

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