Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will try to reach an agreement in peace talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before a new government takes office, local daily Ha'aretz reported Thursday on its website, citing an official close to the prime minister.
Olmert said Wednesday in an official statement from his official residence in Jerusalem that he has decided not to contend in the September 17 primary election of his ruling Kadima and would resign as soon as the new party leader was chosen. Until then, Olmert would remain caretaker prime minister, enabling him to push ahead with the peace talks, possibly for months.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Olmert intended on "reaching agreement with the Palestinians during the time he has left."
"Any agreement he reaches with the Palestinians won't be a personal agreement and he will make sure that the new Kadima leadership is briefed and on board," the official was quoted by Ha'aretz as saying.
Kadima officials have said they believe the next party leader will have a difficult time assembling an alternative government in the current Knesset (parliament).
If the next Kadima leader can not form a new government, then Olmert could remain in office until the next general elections, scheduled for March 2009, said Ha'aretz.
Vice Premier Haim Ramon, a Kadima party leader and Olmert confidant, told Israeli Army Radio that "I believe the chance of holding new elections is high."
Meanwhile, opposition leader and Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu called on Thursday for general elections to end the government's "total failure."
"This government has reached an end and it doesn't matter who heads Kadima. They are all partners in this government's total failure," Netanyahu told Israeli Radio.
Recent opinion polls suggest Netanyahu's Likud party, a critic of Olmert's peace moves with the Palestinians and Syria, would win a snap election.
Source:Xinhua
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