Yoram Turbowicz
Photo: Shaul Golan
PM's chief of staff resigns
Yoram Turbowicz, Olmert's right hand in recent years, to stay on in voluntary capacity as prime minister's special advisor
Ehud Olmert's chief of staff, Yoram Turbowicz, submitted his resignation Thursday evening, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
Olmert asked Turbowicz, one of his representatives in Israel's indirect talks with Syria in Turkey, to continue to deal with diplomatic and other issues. He will stay on in a voluntary capacity as the prime minister's special advisor until the latter leaves office.
Turbowicz has been considered the prime minister's right hand in recent years. Following the 2006 Knesset elections, he was appointed head of Kadima's coalition negotiations team, and was named chief of staff after the government wad formed.
On Wednesday, Olmert announced that he would not take part in the upcoming Kadima primary elections, and will step down to make way for his successor. On Thursday, aides close to the prime minister said that should the State Prosecutor's Office choose to indict him before the primaries, he would immediately tender his resignation.
Another option is that Olmert will declare himself temporarily suspended in a bid to prevent the political system from being hurled into utter chaos.
