Region | Palestinian Territories
Olmert resignation won't solve leadership problems
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced his resignation on Sunday, amid what many experts and analysts describe as a political leadership crisis in Israel, putting the future of peace talks with the Palestinians in limbo.
- By Jumana Al Tamimi, Associate Editor
- Published: 00:04 September 22, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced his resignation on Sunday.
Dubai: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced his resignation on Sunday, amid what many experts and analysts describe as a political leadership crisis in Israel, putting the future of peace talks with the Palestinians in limbo.
Israelis, meanwhile, are focusing on calculating the prospects of success or failure in forming a new government headed by foreign minister Tzipi Livni, who won the elections of the governing party of Kadima last Wednesday.
"I have decided to end my functions as prime minister of the government of Israel," Olmert told a weekly cabinet meeting in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday, hoping Livni will succeed in forming a national government and pledging his support.
Olmert's resignation was expected following a number of corruption allegations. But, and more importantly, his end as leader came as a result of his government's performance over the past two years.
"Israel's thunderous military failure in the war on Lebanon in summer 2006, still echoes until today," Antoine Shalhat, an Acre-based Palestinian political analyst and columnist, told Gulf News. He explained that the corruption charges, although important, were just details.
Many analysts have cast doubts on the success of any Israeli government that comes from Olmert's cabinet in stabilising the Israeli political arena in the future.
"Even if Livni succeeds in forming a government, her success will be temporary," commented Shalhat. "Most importantly, it will be a caretaker government which cannot escape political crisis (later)."
After Olmert submits his resignation to the Israeli president Shimon Peres, Livni will have 42 days to form a government to avert snap general elections, which polls indicate would bring the right-wing Likud party to power. Olmert is likely to remain as interim premier until a new government is sworn in.
Lingering questions
One of the lingering questions for Israel is on the interim government's ability to reach any peace agreement with the Palestinians.
Meanwhile, Livni's first battle would be, according to analysts in both Palestine and Israel, building a new government coalition and bringing in the ultra-orthodox Shas Party. Shas already said it would not join a government that is willing to negotiate on the future of Jerusalem.
Palestinian analysts said there is a belief among the educated and elite Palestinians circles that Israel faces a leadership crisis.
"There has been a leadership crisis in Israel after (former Israeli prime minister Ariel) Sharon's term," said Mahdi Abdul Hadi, Head of Jerusalem-based Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, said.
He likened Israel's leadership crisis to to the current crisis in the occupied territories after Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat passed away. The common factor between Arafat and Sharon was that "both managed to overcome all the contradictions in their societies", Abdul Hadi said. Leaders who succeeded them have not managed to follow in their footsteps, he explained.
Meanwhile, Labour party head Ehud Barak, another key member of Olmert's coalition, met Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend, with local media speculating about an emerging anti-Livni alliance.
"In view of the political, financial and security challenges we face, what Israel needs now is a national emergency government," Barak said ahead of the cabinet meeting.
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