before its too late. A PMs #2 cannot be seen to be working against him. Even if its not true!

... and Peretz has a better moustache.

A dovish element ! Although non-kibbutznick, she is daughter of a Polish-born former Irgun member. All contradictions in one piece is a typical Israeli !

Yet another talented and bright politician digs a hole and jumps into it. Too bad, as Livni had shown a lot of promise. However, Livni appears to have taken a cue from the defunct Center Party of yesteryear and gone with the wind... er, I mean gone with the polls. The polls are nasty, and thus the winds are blowing strongly this week. Will Olmert quit? Not sure, but he certainly has the backbone not to quit because of polls, nor because an investigating committee found his leadership wanting. Truth is, and the polls showed this, that most Israelis can't think of anyone who'd have done a better job at the time. Lucky for Olmert, of course, since it gives him a firm position to stay in office. What the country needs is exactly the opposite of what we're getting today - politicians stabbing each other in the back and the media and citizenry in a frenzy for blood. Livni should have kept her mouth shut and her dagger sheathed.

I think people should at least take note of the fact that a head of state's #2 disagrees with him, and tells him so, and even publicly calls for his resignation. This is all done with no violence, no bloodshed, no coup, no "military wing" vs. "political wing", where the people that disagree with each other simply say "you need to weigh your moves and decide what to do", and the worst thing that can happen is that someone loses their job... They are not threatened, their family members are not kidnapped, and no one tries to find someone else to blame. I wonder if the average arab citizen in one of the arab countries hopes for this sort of situation for his or her country.

Isaiah 3:12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

find tzipi the pin head our new prime minister. Israel cannot live with livni!

it's obvious it's not olmert, livni, peretz or kadima. please israel, get someone in there who can fight and stop the iranian madman. this is your chance to save israel!

To Debra: the bottom line is that these are difficult problems for Israel and difficult and confusing days. Replacing Olmert, or having new elections will accomplish what I ask? Iran poses a serious problem for the world, yet there are few simple remedies. They control oil, have influence in the area, are involved with Russia, China, etc. Bombing the nuclear plants, w/o using tactical high fusion bombs has no guarantee of success, and would inflame the entire region., with Hezbollah and Hamas opening up on Israel. Casualties would pale those of Lebanon. No, this is not about Olmert who did what he could. He should remain. Who else to replace him, Bibi, Barak, Peres, Beilin, Livni? There are no simple answers, and no proven solutions to this 100 year old conflict. Learn from your mistakes, Israel..don't repeat them.

It is incredible. A judicial committe toiled for seven months and published its findings which were clear cut. Olmert and Peretz failed. The entire population of the country does not want them to remain in office but a handful of party members give them "full backing". Who do they think they are kidding ? Why do they think they can insult our intelligence ? What is the point in investigative committees ? What is the point of democracy if public opinion is not respected. I hope against hope that they will be hounded out of office in shame. Eitan Cabel gone, what was his crime ? Zipi Livni will go, what was her crime ? The two main culprits not only remain in office but they get "full backing", Astounding. Only in Israel could this happen. These two brought shame on Israel, caused death and destruction, our enemies are laughing at us and they get "praise" from their party members. A tragedy, a comedy and a farce all in one.

Just read something which made me think - Olmert maybe is considering starting a small scale "winnable" war. This way he shows to the public he learned his lessons and emerge as a Israeli hero leader...

Livni resign and take the crown its time Israel had a real leader and its time Olmert left and headed to the next place for him, retirement home!

this joker has no problem Olmert responded by telling Livni that she cannot launch a campaign to bring him down while holding on to her post of deputy prime minister. Yet he has trouble reprimanding arab MKs for complete rebellion in wanting to take over Israel. Brilliant!

B"H I hear so many calls on, "throw him out", but I hear few on who he would be replaced with. The Israelis vote Likud, Labor, or Kadima, and all three parties are involved on this one. Natanyahu cut funds for the IDF in his budget. Kadima was more than happy to bash heads at Amona. Do you seriously think the public is prepared to elect Israel Our Home, Shas, or National Union to lead the country Israel yet? This is a chess game. Just going to war and not thinking about the next move is one way of reproducing the effect of just going to elections and not thinking with care about the last outcome and what is necessary to change that.

Steve, I thoroughly agree with you. The problem is not Olmert, or Livni. They had plenty of advice. Wasn't Mofaz and Yalon around? These people are well versed on military tactics. This has always been about Clinton and Bush, Kennedy, Truman and Eisenhower. After 67, the US controlled Israel..with it's billioh in aid. They wanted something in return, and got a timid Israel. No way, Livni for anything but a homemaker. She is not Golda., who also broke. Israel needs a Giulian, Powell, Clark, or McCain type to lead., and must stop the wishful thinking. If we leave Iraq, Israel is in trouble. If Iran get nukes, Israel is in trouble. Israel must take the offenive. First Hamas, then Hezbollah., no mercy the next time. It backfires.