Sources close to Ehud Olmert
clarified Saturday night that contrary to recent reports, the prime minister opposes early primary elections in his Kadima
party.
"He plans to fight for his innocence and prove that he did not break the law," an aide to Olmert told Ynet.
| Leaving for Washington |
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| Ceasefire to await Olmert's return from US / Roni Sofer |
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PM to travel to Washington on Monday – meetings on ceasefire negotiations postponed until his return. Issues at hand: Gilad Shalit's return as prerequisite to deal, Egypt's responsibility for prevention of weapons smuggling |
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Olmert was also due to criticize the political system's conduct, and demand that his ministers wait for his return from Washington and allow him to prove his innocence.
"The trip to the United States is very important," the prime minister was set to say. "I expect you to wait for my return, and then we shall discuss all the political issues on the agenda."
Knesset members who spoke to Olmert over the past few days said that they were under the impression he would not oppose primaries, but did not actually hear him say that.
Should Talanky's cross-examination fail to change the dynamics created in the political system, chances are that Kadima will hold elections in the coming months.
Olmert consulted with his lawyers on Friday and instructed them to work to move up Talanky's cross-examination, which is scheduled for July.
An aide to the prime minister said he believes "that after the cross-examination, he will be able to change the political reality created following one person's testimony."
Another source added that the prime minister has decided to distance himself from political issues related to Kadima and the primaries, until the cross-examination is held.
"We have enough public and legal trouble on our heads at the moment," the source said. "Our goal is to deal with these issues, and Olmert is convinced that he will manage to stabilize the political system after the cross-examination.
"There is no need why he should get involved in the political commotion. If they want to talk about primaries, let them talk. The prime minister does not oppose talks about primaries, and will not block the dynamics taking place now, but he does not support them."
As opposed to the impression that Olmert has given up, his people say he plans to fight for his innocence.
"He has not given up the fight," a source at the Prime Minister's Office said. "He is convinced he will manage to return the political system to lines of normalcy."
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni,
who fears that the momentum created following her call for primary elections on Thursday will fade out, continues to try and create a block of MKs who will openly call for primaries.
Livni fears that without the public support of most MKs, the issue will no longer be on the agenda. "Our main goal is to keep making headlines and to bring as many people as possible to support the primaries," an aide to the foreign minister said.
Livni believes that a critical mass of Kadima MKs demanding early primaries will prevent Olmert from blocking the elections. Her main rival, Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, is not wasting time, and is expected to hold an activists' rally later this week.
The Likud
party is also preparing for elections. Opposition Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu
on Saturday evening instructed Likud Director-General Gadi Arieli to prepare a work plan ahead of the upcoming elections.
Labor Chairman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak
has appointed the party's secretary-general, Eitan Cabel, as the person responsible for building the election headquarters. An aide to Barak said that "the Labor Party
is waiting for developments in Kadima. The ball is in their court."
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