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PM associates on Kadima-Labor deal: Barak ran away like battered dog By Yossi Verter The agreement between the prime minister and defense minister that prevented a vote this week on dissolving the Knesset and advanced primaries in the Kadima Party neither calmed tempers nor soothed the tense relations between Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak. On Wednesday, after the fact, Olmert's associates claimed that Labor Party chairman Barak initiated the compromise because he feared Olmert would fire him immediately, and that today, Friday, "the sun will be in the meridian, and he'll be a civilian." Barak, the prime minister's confidants added, "ran away like a battered dog." Advertisement In conversations with several associates late this week, Olmert said he could work in concert with Barak, because of the serious issues on the agenda, and that he does not intend to settle scores with those who stabbed him in the back. Olmert also said in those closed forums that he will not forget that while he was sitting with the French president and, the next day, with the Egyptian president, discussing the issues most critical things to Israel, several of his rivals were plotting against him. In preparation for the primaries in Kadima, slated to wrap up by September 25, Olmert is considering proposing an amendment to the party's charter that would make it easier for him to run, should he decide to do so. The amendment he is reviewing would make the winner of the number-two slot deputy chair of Kadima. In the event that the party chair is forced to quit the position of prime minister, the deputy would automatically become party chair and Kadima would not have to hold another primary election. What would this amendment mean for Olmert? He would essentially be saying to registered Kadima voters: I want to run, but I know my situation is problematic and I know that after I'm reelected, if I'm reelected, the State Prosecutor's Office might file an indictment against me - and then I'll have to resign. If that happens, you'll have nothing to worry about: The change of guard would be quick and clean, Kadima would not be harmed, it would not be caught unprepared. On the other hand, Olmert would also be saying, If I don't run, and after a month or two the prosecution decides to close the case against me it won't be fair to me. Therefore sources close to Olmert believe the proposed amendment might solve the problem - both for Olmert, who hinted in a Knesset speech Wednesday that he will run, and for his party. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Haniyeh's plea Hamas leader in Gaza says rocket fire must stop for sake of Palestinians. Softening position Shin Bet agrees to free prisoners 'with blood on their hands' for Shalit.

Read & React Iran military chief says Israel can't stop nuclear program Responses: 149 Top Hamas official: We'll stop anyone who breaks Gaza truce Responses: 212 Shin Bet agrees to free prisoners 'with blood on their hands' for Shalit Responses: 126 'Dutch Jimmy Carter' accuses Israel of terrorism in new book Responses: 238 Amos Shocken: Citizenship law makes Israel an apartheid state Responses: 196 More Headlines 22:50 Abducted soldier's wife: Sunday's cabinet vote may be last chance 18:20 Iran military chief says Israel can't stop nuclear program 12:31 Palestinians say 17-year-old shot dead by IDF troops in West Bank 18:24 Barack Obama to travel to Europe, Mideast this summer 01:05 Peer shocks Safina to slide into Wimbledon quarterfinals 22:51 German Prof.: Israeli athletes willfully sacrificed themselves in Munich massacre 19:01 Jordan, Canada sign memorandum for civilian nuclear cooperation 13:45 Turkish academic fired for likening Turks in Europe to Jews under Nazis 18:27 UEFA probing claims of Croatian fans' Nazi chants 16:05 Egyptian police kill African man, 7-year-old girl at Israel border 13:41 Iran state media: Man on trial for allegedly spying for Israel 10:13 NYPD arrests 4 black teens for stoning bus full of Jewish toddlers Previous Editions Select Day 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun

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