Peres to PM: I don't see myself as candidate to replace Olmert
Kadima officials: We must look for PM replacement, Barak's call for PM to resign sounded death knell for gov't.
By Mazal MualemVice Premier Shimon Peres told Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday evening that he does not see himself as a candidate to replace Olmert in the prime minister's office.
The two agreed, however, to work together to promote Peres' bid for the presidency.
Peres' comments came hours after Kadima MK David Tal said he was suited to be prime minister, in the wake of calls by senior Kadima members for the party to begin preparations to replace Olmert.
During recent conversations, Tal said he believes Olmert should resign in the wake of the Winograd Committee's partial report on the Second Lebanon War.
Tal is just the latest of several Kadima MKs to call on their party leader to resign, including Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former coalition chairman Avigdor Yitzhaki, who resigned following the war report's publication.
The senior Kadima officials said Tuesday that the party should begin readying for party primaries, in response to a public statement by former prime minister Ehud Barak urging Olmert to resign.
Barak is one of the two leading candidates for the Labor Party leadership, and the other, Ami Ayalon, announced several days ago that he would not serve in an Olmert government should he win the May 28 primary.
Thus Barak's statement, ending several days of silence on the issue, effectively sounded the death knell for Olmert's government, Kadima officials said.
Barak did not actually rule out serving in an Olmert government, but said that if Olmert refused to either resign or call early elections, he would work to forge a broad parliamentary consensus in favor of new elections. He declined to state precisely when he thought such elections should take place, but opined that a transition government headed by Olmert would remain in place for "several months" until this happened. His aides said later that this meant seven to 10 months.
Under Kadima's bylaws, a primary cannot replace an incumbent party leader midterm, so effectively, the primary can only be held once general elections are scheduled. However, party officials said, with elections looking imminent, it makes sense to start planning the primary now. Ministers Tzipi Livni, Shaul Mofaz and Meir Sheetrit all intend to run in the primary.
Olmert's associates declined to respond to Barak's announcement on the record on Tuesday, saying that they did not want to intervene in Labor's internal affairs - a reference to the party's upcoming leadership primary. Off the record, however, they said that they had not expected such a declaration from Barak, and many of them were furious.
Immediately after last summer's war, Barak and Olmert formed a strategic alliance. They conversed frequently, and both had planned on Barak eventually replacing the current Labor Party chairman, Amir Peretz, as defense minister. Olmert believed that this would help to rehabilitate his battered government, and Barak even made this the centerpiece of his primary campaign, saying that his goal was to replace Peretz as defense minister in order to deal with the country's security and diplomatic challenges.
However, the Winograd report's scathing critique of Olmert's performance in the Second Lebanon War resulted in growing public pressure on Barak to demand the prime minister's resignation, as Ayalon did. Barak tried to avoid taking a public stance on the issue, but eventually, opinion polls showing that a majority of the public wanted Olmert to resign convinced him that he had to distance himself from the premier.
On Tuesday, therefore, he called an impromptu press conference on the lawn at Kibbutz Sdot Yam, where he was campaigning for the primary. At this conference, he noted that former army chief of staff Dan Halutz has already resigned, while Peretz has pledged to leave the Defense Ministry after the primary. "I believe that the prime minister, whom I admire and know to be an Israeli patriot, will also find an appropriate way of drawing conclusions, but so far, this hasn't happened," he said.
If Olmert has reached such a conclusion by May 29, the day after Labor's primary, the way will be open for Labor to participate in a transition government until elections take place, in order to deal with Israel's urgent security challenges, Barak continued. But if not, he will work to forge an agreement on early elections.
One of Barak's problems in formulating a public stance on this issue was how to maneuver between the opposing views of his own supporters in the Labor Party. Labor Party Secretary General Eitan Cabel, for instance, resigned from the cabinet over the Winograd report and publicly demanded Olmert's resignation, and he wanted Barak to do the same. In contrast, Ministers Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, Isaac Herzog and Shalom Simhon have remained in the cabinet, and they urged Barak not to rule out serving under Olmert, for fear that Labor's withdrawal from the government could lead to new elections before Barak was ready for them. His speech was therefore an effort to please everyone: He denounced Olmert, but did not rule out serving in his cabinet - a position similar to that adopted by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, but in contrast to Ayalon's pledge not to sit in an Olmert government.
In response to Tuesday's press conference, Barak's rivals for the Labor leadership attacked him, saying that his remarks were ambiguous and did not clearly distance him from Olmert.
Ayalon said that if Labor wants to gain the public's trust and return to power, it must speak out clearly. "The Israeli public is sick of a leadership based on manipulations and demands an honest leadership," he said. "After I am elected, my party will not allow Olmert to continue in his post and will work to establish a national rehabilitation government without Olmert. A government headed by Olmert cannot rehabilitate anything, because Olmert has completely lost the trust of the Israeli public."
MKs Ophir Pines-Paz and Danny Yatom, who are also running in the primary, similarly charged that the public is still in the dark about where Barak really stands.
Peretz, however, has not demanded Olmert's resignation and, like Barak, is leaving open the option of remaining in the government should he be reelected as Labor chairman.
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Former prime minister Ehud Barak holding a press conference on Tuesday. (Itzik Ben-Malki) |
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Personnally, I would think that having elections would be better than having a war, but many israelis seem to be awfully afraid of elections!
Cut some slack for Barak; Yes, his hasty withdrawl from Lebanon had serious consequences BUT it was actually Sharon's inaction that allowed Hezbollah to become what it has. Furthermore, Barak's heart was and is in the right place. No doubt his qualifications surpass those of Olmert,Peretz and Livni combined.
Not Peres. Peretz!
He'd do a good job of keeping you all in check.
So, Labor party is "fumbling through how to react to the Winograd results, while the Kadima party continues walking without guidanc--real guidance. You have to look beyond politics and look to your faith!
and they are doing all in their power to avoid elections. They know full well that with new elections most will lose their seats and at worst the party will fold like Shinui. Then where will these parasites get employment - cleaning toilets at Yerushalyim's bus station? Boy, am I fed up with their deceitful tricks!
George Washington once said the best way to avoid war is to be prepared for it. Astonishly, Israel wasn't, and it wont be so until you and Peretz quit. As long as you are there, war is more likely.
NEITHER DO I. ELECTIONS TONIGHT!!!!!!!!
Peres guess what no one else wants you as a replacement as PM. The truth is Olmert, Peretz, Peres,and Livni all need to be replaced as soon as possible. What does need to happen is new elections and Kadima being replaced . This whole party failed Israel in every way possible. Barak was to close to Olmert through out this who ordeal for Israel. He was just as involved as the rest of the Kadima Party and he needs to not look for the job as PM but let Israeli citizens decide with new elections. This way what ever way it goes the Israeli public will have made a decision. The time for what the kadima party is trying to do is way passed and over.
Peres is telling Olmert that he does not see himself as a PM candidate. Of course this is not true, but Peres is always careful. He is always an "indefatigable underminer", as Rabin calls him. What is the plan now? Peres is lucky that he can run for the Presidency now and need not make a choice between this and running for PM. Labor will not leave the government before a new leader is elected. The elections for Labor leader will be on 28 May. Since 5 candidates are running, including 4 serious ones, it is unlikely anyone will gain the 40% needed to become the winner. A second round is expected (for the top two). This will be held a few weeks later, unless there are charges of fraud, when the whole thing will be further delayed. In any case, the elections for State President will be on June 13. Peres can run, but is expected by some vote-counters to be defeated. Again. Once this is over, Peres can pay attention to the PM-ship. When Labor pulls out, Olmert will need to give up his post, or go for new elections, which makes no sense. Now Peres will have his chance to run in the Kadima primary. I expect him to do it, although it is hard to believe he will win. If at first you don`t succeed, try, try, try, try, try, try, try again.
The entire clown show must be removed and elections called! Let the people elect new leaders. This clinging to power is destructive.
If Israel must have brain-dead leadership, at least get someone who is receiving medical treatment for the condition.
Make Peres the President already,forget him for the prime ministership.Keep Olmert until a statesman with some balls arrives that wont cater to the ultras in the left or right camps. Both left and right do not have a vision that speaks for the whole country and just saying Olmert is not good enough is not good enough to turf him,look around and there is not much around that the silent majority have any faith in.
No doubt Olmert must go but the worst possible thing for the country would be to bring back Shimon Peres as PM. He has a long and proven record of very misguided, to be charitable, opinions and actions not to mention his well documented political treachery. He simply cannot be trusted with the most critical post for the very survival of the country.
When will this country realize that we need to get rid of this stupid, curruption-inspiring political system and have elections for direct representation by region - similar to the US. A party that proposes this could win big time!
Peres is going on 84 and has enjoyed a long, varied and distinguished life in public service. I find something disturbing in his current candidacy to be president or prime minister. Something compulsive-obsessive. The jobs are dissimilar. One gets the impression that he's desperate to wear royal robes, that without a top title he doubts his own existence. Between his age and this hunger for "honor" or "dignity" he appears to be not the person for either job.
Didn't Peres have Rabin shot by his bodyguard inside the car and at the hospital?!
Peres is a has been. He is also too old to be PM. If Kadima thinks Peres is the only choice, this reflects badly on them. Why not Kadima dissolves and returns to its original base--Likud?
Peres is most qualified for the PM's position. The man has the right vision and experience.
There would be no need for elections if Olmert would do the right thing (for a change) and resign. I could live with Peres as prime minister, Livni as foreign minister, and Barak as defense minister. Olmert should resign and spend all his time defending himself against the multitude of corruption charges.
Shimon Peres is an excellent statesman; but note he never wins elections. He is only appointed to posts He lost even the presidential bid, let alone the Prime Minister post. Since he is an extremely successful statesman who never wins elections, he would be a great interim Prime Minister until elections are held again. At that point, someone else should run. Perhaps Peres can then finally win the presidential bid.
Peres was not Elected This is a Dictatorship. He lost every election this is not democacy. He is a US Puppet
the Media every where was talking different stories and no one clarify the thing even Arafat didn't do. We remember immediately what happened and the situation went out of control and Mr. BArak called for election where he lost. Still there some thing untold about why Arafat refused while refering he would be killed if he do accept, no follow up was avaliable. ------------------------- in any case should be no problem now as Mr Barak offer is a match to the arab intiative that called for the same thing and a comphrensible solution to the refugees problem that sound flexible and depend on different cases. SO Mr. Olmret Government is talking about the same thing relatively. thanks for your feedabk too
Do we have to keep re-cycling our failures? Peres is far past his "sell-by" date - he started smelling pretty rotten since Oslo. Barak is another weasel - just a pompous, self-important opportunist who failed. As for Labour & Kadima - we're not buying what they're selling. Re-cycled failed policies parroted by political hacks who want a job just don't cut it anymore. "Throw the Bums Out" should be the new slogan in upcoming elections.
Peres' first task will be to pardon the murdered Marwan Barghuti. Next up, a re-definition of 'blood on their hands'. Any arab who killed a Jew will be pardoned (that excludes Yigal Amir) and several settlers who are sitting in jail because they defended themselves. All this in the name of 'peace'. Sickening
I am less interested in seeing a particular government fall or an individual replaced than in seeing an intelligent, public debate over what happened and how it can be fixed. So far, none of the potential Olmert replacements have spoken up about what they think the mistakes actually were, or about how they would have responded differently. Olmert himself, other than promising to "address it", has also been completely silent on this point. We got into trouble in the first place by voting for a party whose platform was "trust us, we know what we're doing". I, for one, won't repeat this mistake by voting for a party whose platform is "look at him, he doesn't". We as Israelis should demand at least this much accountability from those who would run for office.
The only way for Olmert to be a great man is to be exchanged with Gilad Shalit.
I'm not sure what media sources you have available - but it is no secret why the talks between Barak and Arafat broke down. Barak and Arafat agreed to a Palestinian State with east Jerusalem as it's capital and some 96% of the West Bank and Gaza. Pending acceptance by their governments. Arafat, however, also demanded Palestinian right of return for all former Palestinians and their children and grandchildren. Not to Palestine, but to Israel. Both the US and Israel saw this as unfeasible. It would solve one Palestinian/Israeli conflict and immediately start a new one. In this Barak has nothing to explain. It should be noted however, that the agreement was in its initial stages and had not been ratified nor accepted by either Israeli or Palestinian governments.
I'd have Barak as the next Israeli prime minister. He came as close as anyone to sorting out this mess. What really happened at Camp David is anyone's guess - a recent book claims it all went wrong over the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif - but at least Barak showed a bit of willing and at least he has some experience. No one is asking for the next PM to be a Palestinian-lover - but he/she must at least take the situation seriously. Israel is in danger of losing out on a 2-state solution because a sizable chunk of Israelis still want it all, irrespective of what the Pals want. Perhaps Barak/Livni, if they get on, could steer Israel in a sensible direction towards founding a Palestinian state and making a deal with the Arab world. It has to happen sometime and Israel is in a relatively strong position so why not get on with it? If it doesn't work you still have the IDF. All Netanyahu promises is more of the same crap.
not to mention Sheetrit, what redeeming qualities, do any of these people have. The answer is none. It looks more and more like large scale war is on the way. I just hope you are preparing NOW.
The only problem is the mafia. How efficient would Barak BE???????????
YOU LEAD!!!!)))))))))))))))))
caused the situation in Lebenon to begin with by withdrawing our troops from the border in a rash an unprecedented way?? Wasn't he taken to task for this by the Winograd report?? Are we supposed to believe that now HE of all people is going to make things better?? Give me a break.
Continuing in your antin-Democratic and anti-Shemite Wyes ic. Kadima has never held elections for its party list. It Abe Vigoda leader has never won an election to afford him a MK seat. Kadimas maelech, Scheinermann disavowed his party (Likud) charter and implemented the mitzna Et al plan to destroy Jewish lieves and cede your land that protects you. Sharon the master of the kadima universecreated a party that was unelected but took control to continue the destruciton of Jewish lives and your security by expelling them from the land that protects you. Kadima hates Democracy and the Jews who love it and the land that protects you.
1. All of Kadima was responsible. 2. How many of Kadima ministers are under investigation? New election is the only answer. Let the people decide.
DIRTY POLITICS AGAIN.olmert refuses to get out..barak scared of BIBI and making underhand deals..the religious riding the bandwagon -extort more money..peres thinking of president seat to stay in knesst..THE NATION WANTS ELECTIONS NOW.SEND THE CORRUPT BASTARDS HOME all of them
Some of history: Mr. Barak was walking toward global peace deal with Mr. Arafat and the Offer looks generous and was secret. until now now one now why Mr Araft Refuse the deal. There has been speculations and writting and guessin from outside. But no one of the 3 men involved in it directely talked about what happened. Mr. Arafat ended up under siege and never talked after that. Mr. Barak is comming back and Must to speak up about it first before getting back. the 3rd man is still arround. Integrety is calling for Mr. Barak to explain what happened to start with. We all know that his call to peace that way had him call for election where he lost. Now Mr. Olmret went to war and need to resign. So what exactely it is about. Thank you and no offense.