Olmert to resign

Tashah · 08-02-08, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Olmert to Quit After Elections in September
By ISABEL KERSHNER
Published: July 31, 2008

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, embroiled in a high-profile corruption investigation, announced on Wednesday that he would resign after his party choses a new leader in September elections.

The televised announcement injected new uncertainty into Israeli politics and the Middle East peace effort, coming just as Mr. Olmert has been intensifying negotiations with the Palestinian Authority as well as Syria.

Mr. Olmert’s domestic credibility has sunk so low that it is unclear whether he still has the legitimacy or the political traction to make historic concessions to Arab adversaries at all.

Source: NYTimes
Although Mr. Olmert gets fairly good marks on managing the economy, most Israelis are very unhappy with his generous concessions to maintain the ceasefire with Hamas and obtain the return of kidnapped/deceased IDF personel. I endorse his departure.

bub · 08-03-08, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tashah

Source: NYTimes
Although Mr. Olmert gets fairly good marks on managing the economy, most Israelis are very unhappy with his generous concessions to maintain the ceasefire with Hamas and obtain the return of kidnapped/deceased IDF personel. I endorse his departure.

What kind of corruption was he involved in?

Tashah · 08-03-08, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bub

What kind of corruption was he involved in?

Money transactions that violate Israeli law. Hidden election contributions, double-billing for government services, fraud etc. IIRC, there are four separate investigations of Olmert's financial wheeling and dealing.

bub · 08-03-08, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tashah

Money transactions that violate Israeli law. Hidden election contributions, double-billing for government services, fraud etc. IIRC, there are four separate investigations of Olmert's financial wheeling and dealing.

wow, looks like his carreer is finished

Do you know who his successor could be?

Tashah · 08-03-08, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bub

wow, looks like his carreer is finished

Do you know who his successor could be?

At the moment, it seems that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is the frontrunner with Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz a close second.

The Kadima Party sucessor to Olmert will remain as Israel's Prime Minister only until the next Israel general election in 2010. If that election were held today, Binyamin Netanyahu of the Likud Party would win by a wide margin.

bub · 08-03-08, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tashah

At the moment, it seems that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is the frontrunner with Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz a close second.

The Kadima Party sucessor to Olmert will remain as Israel's Prime Minister only until the next Israel general election in 2010. If that election were held today, Binyamin Netanyahu of the Likud Party would win by a wide margin.

Tzipi Livni would be fine, she looks very moderate
I don't like Shaul Mofaz as much as her, as he looks more "militarist"

Tashah · 08-04-08, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bub

Tzipi Livni would be fine, she looks very moderate
I don't like Shaul Mofaz as much as her, as he looks more "militarist"

Current Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz has served as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Member of the Knesset (MK). He has a military background and was the 16th Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces. Interestingly (or ironically), Mr. Mofaz was born in Iran.

bub · 08-04-08, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tashah

Current Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz has served as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Member of the Knesset (MK). He has a military background and was the 16th Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces. Interestingly (or ironically), Mr. Mofaz was born in Iran.

I've read that, yes!
Livni comes from Poland, and another one from Estonia!
That's unique!

PeteEU · 08-04-08, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tashah

If that election were held today, Binyamin Netanyahu of the Likud Party would win by a wide margin.

And that scares the **** out of me.. he is one crazy politician... makes Cheney look like father Christmas.