Olmert: It's not easy being prime minister

You couldn't tell there was a police investigation against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday. With his political future on the chopping block, Olmert pressed forth with his 'business as usual' front. Speaking to

an international audience at a Jerusalem event organized by the United Israel Appeal (Keren Hayesod), Olmert determinedly ignored the fresh police investigation against him and focused, instead, on the hardships of office.

"It has been said that the premiership is a difficult position, though I think they may have gone a little overboard. It is not that difficult, but I can assure you – it is not easy. This is a country genuinely facing a reality that cannot be found anywhere else in the world," he said.

The remainder of the address, which was met by a standing ovation, Olmert dedicated to matters of national security and the situation of Jewish communities abroad.

"Though our enemy adopts a different identity every time, the threat remains as it was, only the circumstances change.

"But what never changes is our resilience, our fortitude in the face of all these threats. We can say, not out of arrogance, not in an attempt to brag – after all, we Israelis are known as being very modest, right? – but we are secure in our saying that, and you can tell this to your communities, that the people of Israel are strong. The State of Israel is strong. There is no enemy that can destroy us."

Barak: Investigation won't impede talks

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ehud Barak addressed the investigation against the prime minister and its implications in an interview with Israel Radio earlier in the day.

"I find it difficult to believe political decisions on the negotiation front stem from a given situation in the police's investigation," said Barak.

"This arena is shared by both (Foreign Affairs Minister) Livni and I, it's not occurring in some void. I cannot fathom that the prime minister would do such a thing. So long as there are no charges, a man is innocent. And this is how I regard Olmert.

"The prime minister makes decisions all day long and he does not make them alone. I am certain that we

will learn the nature of the allegations within days. I truly wish for Olmert and for all of us that this will all turn out to have been a dream."

Barak also discussed possible developments in the political arena in the near future.

"Any party, certainly the larger ones, could withdraw (form the coalition) and this will lead us to elections. There could find ourselves going to elections within a year or even within 90 days. There could be all sorts of reasons. Labor will contend for the premiership."