Israel

Olmert to quit in September

Article published on the 2008-07-31 Latest update 2008-07-31 08:31 TU

Ehud Olmert
(Photo: AFP)

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has announced that he will resign after mid-September primaries in his party. He has been plagued by persistent allegations of corruption. He claimsthat he is innocent but that he is choosing the public good over his personal interests.

Olmert has faced calls from within his Kadima party to step down.

Olmert has been under investigation for reportedly accepting election donations from an American businessman, Morris Talansky, in 2006. He may have used the cash to buy luxury items.

He said he would not run in his party's primary election "in order to allow the chairman to be elected and form a different government quickly and efficiently". 

A new prime minister must form a coalition in order to govern.

The top contendors to replace Ehud Olmert are Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's spokesman said Abbas will work with any new head of the Israeli government to emerge after the primaries of Olmert's party. Palestinian negotiators still hoped to reach a peace agreement by the end of the year.

The White House said Wednesday evening that it would continue to work toward a Middle East peace settlement by the year's end.

A new prime minister must form a coalition government.  

In Israel, right-wing opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday ruled out any alliance with Olmert's Kadima party when it chooses a new leader and called for elections soon.

"This government has finished its mission, irrespective of who will head Kadima," Netanyahu told public radio.