At a press conference at his official residence in Jerusalem this evening, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced that he would not be a candidate in the Kadima party's primary elections for party leader. The prime minister said he would resign as soon as a new party leader was elected. The leadership elections are scheduled for September.
"I have no intention of interfering in the internal elections and I will give my blessing to the result. My decision has not been made out of bitterness," Olmert said.
Referring to the investigations being conducted into money he allegedly received from US businessman Morris Talansky and into other affairs, Olmert said that personal justice was important to him, but that the good of the country was more important, and that he was therefore announcing that he would not stand for party leader.
Olmert said that he would refute all the allegations against him.
Opposition leaders have called for new elections to the Knesset rather than a continuation government under Olmert's replacement as Kadima leader.
The leading contenders in the Kadima primaries are expected to be Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni, Minister of Transport Shaul Mofaz, and Minister of Internal Affairs Meir Sheetrit.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on July 30, 2008
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