Olmert puts peace in peril

Occupied Jerusalem: Israel's right-wing Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday called for an early election to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, whose pledge to resign has deepened uncertainty over Middle East peacemaking.

Top advisers said Olmert could stay in office for months as caretaker premier, long enough to pursue talks with the Palestinians and Syria. But politicians said the scandal-plagued leader had no mandate to commit Israel to any deals.

"He has no legitimacy, not from the public, nor the Knesset, nor the government, to reach any understandings with the Palestinians or with Syria that would bind the government," said Communications Minister Ariel Attias of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party.

Olmert said on Wednesday he would step down after a September 17 vote within his centrist Kadima party to choose a new leader. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has emerged as the leading candidate inside Kadima to succeed Olmert, but opinion polls show more Israelis would support Netanyahu, a vocal critic of the government's peace moves, in a parliamentary election.

Livni said that she continues to hope for a peace deal with the Palestinians this year and called on all parties that support peace to unite.

It could take months for a new Kadima leader to assemble a coalition majority, and Vice Premier Haim Ramon said that Olmert could remain in office as caretaker until February or March, assuming new elections are called.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pledged to work with Olmert and his successor despite the "turmoil" in Israel.