The latest investigation against Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert might greatly affect the interior political situation and lead to new elections, an Israeli senior official was quoted on Wednesday by local media.
"This time, there is a chance for a big shake-up in the political system, and we may even have elections in the coming months," the source from Olmert's Kadima party, who asked to remain anonymous, was quoted by Yedioth Ahronoth as saying.
"For the time being it's difficult to say whether Olmert will survive this affair too, despite the strength he has been displaying," the source said.
Meanwhile, the Qatar-based al-Jazeera news channel reported on Wednesday that Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni is already slated for to replace Olmert should he step down, till the end of the investigation or until new elections are held.
Olmert's office has denied the claims. Olmert himself tried to assure the public that business would proceed as usual.
"We will continue working on all issues on the national agenda and we will take care of the State of Israel's affairs," he told the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday.
Olmert was questioned under advisement for over an hour on Friday. Israeli law enforcement soon placed a gag order prohibiting the publication of details of the probe, over which Olmert was questioned under caution.
At present the only information cleared for publication merely confirms the new allegations concern events that took place prior to Olmert's premiership.
According to Justice Daniel Beeri of Tel Aviv Magistrates Court,which on Tuesday rejected a petition to lift the comprehensive gagorder on the police probe, the gag order was left in place to "avoid impairing an ongoing investigation."
Besides one closed in 2007, Olmert still has three police investigations open against him. The status of each case is unknown to the public, due to police fears that revealing such information could undermine the inquiry. In each case, Olmert has maintained his innocence.
Source: Xinhua
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