(VIDEO) Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert convened a special government session Thursday morning meant to demonstrate Israel is not facing a power vacuum as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon clings to life at a Jerusalem hospital.
Olmert convenes special cabinet session (Footage: Channel 2)
"This is a difficult hour for all of us and a situation we're unfamiliar with," Olmert said at the start of the session. "We're all praying at this time for the prime minister's wellbeing. From here, we're sending a hug to his sons Gilad and Omri, and praying for his wellbeing."
"Arik is not only a leader, but a close friend of all of us. This is a difficult hour and we'll face it together," the acting prime minister said.
Justice Minister and leading Kadima member Tzipi Livni said that "like every citizen in Israel, I and all other government ministers are praying for the prime minister's wellbeing."
"The message coming out of this government session, beyond the prayers and hope, is that the government functions. I will do everything in my power to help the acting prime minister function, lead this government, take the right decisions, and I'm certain my fellow ministers will do the same," Livni said.
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| Olmert assumes PM duties / Ronny Sofer |
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Vice prime minister designated as temporary replacement as PM clings to life; set to convene cabinet meeting Thursday morning at Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem |
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The special session is also attended by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, government Secretary Yisrael Maimon, and special Sharon advisor Dov Weisglass. All Likud ministers, who were set to quit the government Sunday, are also in attendance.
Thursday morning, Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu announced the decision to quit the government will be suspended until further notice.
"We're in, we have national responsibility, and this is not the time to talk about quitting," a senior Likud member said.
For the time being, Olmert will be holding no less than 12 government portfolios, after stepping in for Sharon.
This morning, Olmert left his Jerusalem home, which has become a sort of fortress, with the Shin Bet boosting security arrangements around the acting prime minister. At one point, the area was declared a "sterile zone" and the road leading to the house was temporarily blocked.
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