JERUSALEM, 31 May 2008 — With Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert up against the ropes, members of his Kadima party are already jockeying for position in anticipation of his downfall and possible early elections.
“The Kadima party primary began yesterday, even if nobody declared this officially. Even the prime minister realizes that he cannot prevent it from taking place soon,” the top-selling Yediot Ahronot wrote in an editorial. Olmert suffered a stinging one-two blow when his deputy challenged his leadership right after a key ally demanded he quit over a corruption scandal.
Amid increasing tension in Israeli political arena, Olmert has requested a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, before the Israeli prime minister leaves for Washington on Monday, a report said yesterday. The daily Yediot Ahronot said that Olmert’s office contacted Abbas headquarter the Muqata’a and requested the meeting.
Abbas recently expressed his fear that the political crisis in Israel will harm the ongoing peace negotiations between the Jewish state and the Palestinian Authority.
