Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas believes
a political crisis in Israel that could unseat Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
will hurt peace talks, his spokesman said on Wednesday.
| Special Press Conference |
|
| Barak says Olmert cannot stay in office / Amnon Meranda |
|
(Video) Defense Minister Ehud Barak says he believes prime minister cannot run government, his personal affairs at the same time. In special press conference, he calls on Olmert to detatch himself from management of State as soon as possible |
| Full Story |
|
|
|
"No doubt, what's happening will leave a negative impact on negotiations," Nabil Abu Rdainah said in a statement shortly after Defense Minister Ehud Barak called
on Olmert to step aside over corruption allegations.
The defense minister's statement shook Israel's political arena. Fellow Labor Knesset Member Eitan Cabel said his party must do something instead of stand on the sidelines. "In light of the recent events, we must dictate the actions rather than be dragged," he said.
"We must lead a move among the Israeli public and make a statement which may eventually bring us to a situation in which the Knesset's summer session is nothing more than a corridor for early elections. I already said after Winograd (report on the Second Lebanon War) that we must quit, and the recent events with the latest affair only strengthen this need."
Cabel's colleague, MK Danny Yatom, also said something must be done. "There is no room for an ideological statement alone. There is room for an ideological act. If Olmert doesn’t take leave of absence, Labor must leave the government."
Meanwhile, Knesset Member Silvan Shalom (Likud) announced his intention to submit a bill proposal to disperse the Knesset in a pre-election vote within two weeks.
Shalom said that “Barak’s statement reinforces the need to disperse the Knesset and hold new elections. I intend to raise a bill proposal for the Knesset’s dispersal in two weeks and believe that the bill will receive a majority following Barak’s announcement.”
RSS
