By Xinhua
Jerusalem : The ruling Kadima party is at a point at which it must make decisions and prepare for any scenario, including early elections, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Thursday regarding the ongoing corruption investigation against party leader Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Livni, also a senior member of the Kadima party, made the remarks at an international security conference at the Inbal Hotelin Jerusalem, adding she is a firm believer in the primary system and that she favors a party primary to give the public a say in choosing a leader so that “we can operate to restore the trust in Kadima.”
“We cannot ignore the events of the past few days. This is not just a legal matter, and it does not pertain solely to the prime minister as a private person – these are questions that are related to the values and norms that we want to instill and their effect on the public’s trust in Israeli politics,” local daily Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Livni as saying.
Livni, who would take over as Kadima chairperson should Olmert suspend himself or resign, had been one of the few politicians who kept silent as the political storm brewed following the deposition of Jewish American businessman Morris Talansky. Now her breaking of silent further built up pressure on Olmert.
Talansky told a preliminary hearing at Jerusalem District Court on Tuesday that he gave Olmert envelopes of cash amounting to no less than 150,000 U.S. dollars over a 15-year period.
The testimony is part of an investigation into Olmert, who is suspected of illegally receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from Talansky.
Early on Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister and Labor Party chairman Ehud Barak said in a meeting with his Labor Party ministers that early elections appear inevitable in light of the corruption probe currently hanging over Olmert.
“For the sake of political stability, an alternate government headed by one of the members of Kadima, must be established, but it is very likely that there will be elections sometime during the coming year,” said Barak.
Barak Wednesday called on Olmert to step aside over corruption allegations or resign at a press conference in Jerusalem, warning that if Olmert does not quit, Labor Party will move towards early elections.
In response to Barak’s call, Olmert said Wednesday evening that he will continue to function as prime minister and will not step down despite ongoing bribery investigation against him.
Olmert said it is inconceivable that a prime minister will be condemned based on a single testimony, adding that he will issue a statement in the next few days.
Olmert has said he would resign if indicted, but State Prosecutor Moshe Lador said it is too early to say if an indictment will be issued, and a decision is to be made only after the completion of police investigations.