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Last update - 21:13 23/06/2008 Labor MKs vote in favor of backing bill to dissolve Knesset By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service Tags: Ehud Olmert, Labor Party  Lawmakers from the Labor Party decided Monday afternoon to cast a yes vote during the preliminary reading of a bill Wednesday to disperse the Knesset, in line with a pledge by party leader Ehud Barak. Barak made the call Sunday, despite Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's threat to dismiss Labor ministers who vote in favor, as well as opposition to the move from Labor MKs. The Labor leader last month demanded that Olmert step aside in light of a corruption investigation against him. Barak gave Olmert until June 25 to step aside, or face the dissolution of the Knesset. Advertisement Party ministers Yuli Tamir and Ghaleb Majadele are leading the fight against Barak. Other Laborites who oppose the move include MKs Amir Peretz and Nadia Hilou. Tamir said Sunday the Labor Central Committee should be convened immediately to decide on the matter. "If Labor ministers are interested in leaving the government, a Central Committee meeting must be held immediately and make a clear decision in the party's institutions, as required," she said. Barak associates on Sunday accused Olmert of readiness to sacrifice the good of the country for the sake of his personal interests. One of them said Olmert's opposition to dispersing the Knesset is "a cynical move" meant to prevent his ouster by his Kadima party. The associates said if Olmert carries through on his threat to dismiss Labor ministers, the move would spark a no-confidence motion next week, which would in turn lead to immediate elections. Barak told Labor ministers Sunday that steps are being taken toward the establishment of an alternative government. Olmert associates said the prime minister was set on dismissing Labor ministers who vote in favor of the dispersal of the Knesset, even at the price of moving toward early elections. "There is a limit to every prank and political trick of Barak," one of the associates said. "Enough of his games. No one will sit in the government after voting in favor of dispersing the Knesset. It's impossible to lead like this. The prime minister has no desire to lead a faltering government. Barak is acting against the views of half the members of his faction." Although Shas is threatening to vote in favor of dispersing the Knesset as well, unless child allowance benefits are increased, Olmert decided yesterday not to threaten Shas ministers with dismissal. "We have ideological disagreements with Shas, and we will try to resolve them by Wednesday," an Olmert associate said. The prime minister's associates said teams representing Olmert and Shas were working on finding a solution, but said there was no plan to increase the child benefits themselves, but rather to increase allotments for the poor in other ways. However, a Shas official said no one sat with party representatives "in a serious manner." "The fact that [Finance Minister] Roni Bar-On and [Cabinet Secretary] Oved Yehezkel spoke to [Shas chairman] Eli Yishai doesn't mean anything," the party official said. "From our perspective, nothing has changed." Related articles: Olmert: I'll fire Labor ministers who try to topple government ANALYSIS / Who's in favor of dissolving the Knesset 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.   Of Course Yulia Tamir is against 15:55  |  David 23/06/08   2.   Tamir wants to be ambassador to the UN....she needs Olmert! 17:26  |  Jewish State 23/06/08   3.   Rats (Labor, Shas, Kadima) jumping a sinking ship? 17:46  |  bat yam 23/06/08   4.   I would not tolerate the "shmear" in the United States. 17:47  |  Johnny Weintraub 23/06/08   5.   Labor MKs vote to support bill to dissolve Knesset 17:54  |  Joshua 23/06/08   6.   Make Sure Tamir & Majadele Are Not Reelected 17:54  |  Dish it Out 23/06/08   7.   Treacherous Barak... 18:01  |  Ulf 23/06/08   8.   OLMERT,LIVNI AND LABOR DEFEATIST & LEFTISTS MUST GO 18:01  |  Isaac Rubinstein 23/06/08   9.   Dissolve Knesset Till Land For Peace Extortion Is Out Of Agenda 18:08  |  Joseph.E 23/06/08   10.   Joshua 18:14  |  Dror 23/06/08   11.   Tamir and Majadale are just like Olmert 18:23  |  Dror 23/06/08   12.   No10 18:29  |  Joshua 23/06/08   13.   leadership is lacking and will continue to be, Joshua 18:45  |  Dror 23/06/08   14.   Olmert`s choices 19:09  |  Tosefta 23/06/08   15.   With HOPES that this Olmert Knesset wll be dissolved COMPLETELY 19:30  |  Dolly 23/06/08   16.   Barack is to be commended for making the right decision 20:18  |  Dagma 23/06/08   17.   As if Barak is cleaner....... 20:32  |  Jo 23/06/08   18.   BARUCH HASHEM,this is the day we all been waiting for 21:27  |  chaim 23/06/08   19.   Israel will not forget those who stood by Olmert! 21:32  |  S 23/06/08   20.   please bring in somebody who can take action. 22:24  |  frenz 23/06/08   21.   Olmert : "anyone who wishes to disperse 23:18  |  Natasha 23/06/08   22.   Olmert may very well have been PAID BY ARABS! 00:02  |  Dagma 24/06/08   23.   The sooner the better 00:45  |  Zev 24/06/08   24.   #14 - he is likely to be indicted ... 00:50  |  redmike 24/06/08   25.   And What next? any one knows 04:13  |  Simon Mohammed 24/06/08

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