Israel's P.M. Hounded by Political Rivals
Ehud Olmert's political career hanging by a thread, Israeli media reports.
JERUSALEM, May 30, 2008 — -- Israel's political sharks are beginning to smell blood — and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is the one who's bleeding.
Some political commentators say he is now fatally wounded by corruption allegations and the scandalous headlines caused by this week's damning testimony from U.S. businessman Morris Talansky.
In court on Tuesday, Talansky painted a detailed picture of how he allegedly handed over thousands of dollars — much of it stuffed into envelopes — to Olmert over a 13-year period.
The headline writers in Israel had a field day. The Israeli public was shocked.
From Tuesday on, the prime minister's standing and already weak reputation were seriously wounded.
The first political rival to show his teeth was Labor Party leader and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who urged the prime minister to step down, asking Olmert's Kadima Party to take steps to replace him. Barak hinted at leaving the coalition government and calling for new elections.
On Thursday, it was the turn of Olmert's own foreign minister and deputy prime minister, Tzipi Livni. She is from the Kadima Party.
Striding out in front of the cameras in the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, she said, "It is impossible to ignore the events of the last few days. This is not only a personal matter of the prime minister, these are questions that touch upon the values and norms that we wish to encourage."
And then the bombshell. She said that the party should start planning for an election to find a new leader. You can bet she will stand.
Officials within Olmert's office are said to be furious with her. This is not the first time she has moved against him. After an inquiry into Olmert's handling of the war in Lebanon in 2006, she said he should have resigned.
Their relationship has been cool ever since.
"We always knew this about her," an Olmert associate said. "She waited for the moment that Olmert would be weak and stuck a knife in his back."
Other senior members of the Kadima Party are now putting their names forward as possible replacements.
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