Olmert wins party backing to stay on

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-03-2007 09:57

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attends a swearing-in ceremony for the incoming Police Commissioner in Jerusalem, May 1, 2007. REUTERS/Menahem Kahana/Pool

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has fended off a public call from his foreign minister to resign, by winning critical support from party loyalists amid a crisis over his handling of the Lebanon war.

The crisis started on Monday when an official inquiry savaged Olmert's conduct of last year's war with Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanen.

Just before the lawmakers met, Livni had convened a news conference to reveal she had urged Olmert to quit, and that she wanted his job.

Livni said, "I told him that resignation would be the right thing for him to do. I know there were rumors I was trying to topple the prime minister, It's not true. It's a decision that he must take."

Later on Wednesday Olmert convened an emergency meeting of the ruling Kadima party.

Though top lawmakers in Olmert's Kadima Party called for the prime minister to step down, Olmert has won a critical show of support. The chairman of Kadima's parliamentary faction, Avigdor Yitzhaki, personally resigned in protest during the meeting.

Israeli defense minister Amir Peretz said on Wednesday evening that he is working to fix the problems cited in the Winograd report, and that this is no time for blame.

Amir Peretz said, "The members of Winograd Commission did deep, thorough and serious work. The report they wrote lays important foundations for the reparation of long-term problems in the system. Israel is no longer engaged in a policy of turning a blind eye. We criticize and do not agree, and we no longer ignore what has been going on."

Under Kadima's rules, Olmert cannot be ousted. The only course of action is to persuade him to resign or hold a primary which would take time to organize.

Parliament could force Olmert out through a no-confidence vote but there does not yet appear to be a majority to do so.

Editor:Du Xiaodan