"Galei Zahal" (IDF Army) radio reports that with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert due to be questioned by police for the third time, the "Kadima" central executive will officially announce today that the party primaries will be held in ten weeks time, between September 14 and 18.
Under the agreement reached between the candidates, the elected party leader will try to put together an alternative government under his leadership, and if he succeeds, Olmert will be forced to resign. If the new leader is unable to form a government, a date will be set for early elections, and Olmert will remain prime minister until then.
Despite the understandings between Olmert and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni, this option does not officially appear in the proposal that will be brought before the central executive today, and this will leave Olmert with an escape route. "Olmert realizes that the winner of the primaries will be Kadima's candidate for prime minister," said Minister of Immigrant Absorption Jacob Edery, who added that there was no need for Olmert to resign.
Sources close to the prime minister reiterated this morning that Olmert would not make a decision about standing for reelection in the primaries until after the cross examination of Morris Talansky, which is due to take place next week.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 10, 2008
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2008