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| Israeli PM to quit within months | Israeli PM to quit within months |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has announced he will stand down within months, saying a corruption case involving him is hurting his family. | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has announced he will stand down within months, saying a corruption case involving him is hurting his family. |
| Vowing to prove his innocence, he said that he would quit as leader of his Kadima party as soon as it elects a new leader on 17 September. | Vowing to prove his innocence, he said that he would quit as leader of his Kadima party as soon as it elects a new leader on 17 September. |
| He will remain caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed. | He will remain caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed. |
| Mr Olmert had been under pressure to resign over a police inquiry into money he received from a businessman. | Mr Olmert had been under pressure to resign over a police inquiry into money he received from a businessman. |
| The corruption inquiry centres around allegations that a US citizen, Morris Talansky, made election donations in cash to Mr Olmert in 2006, which may have subsequently been used to buy luxury items. | The corruption inquiry centres around allegations that a US citizen, Morris Talansky, made election donations in cash to Mr Olmert in 2006, which may have subsequently been used to buy luxury items. |
| I am proud to be the prime minister of a country that investigates its prime ministers Ehud OlmertIsraeli prime minister href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7534200.stm">Olmert to quit: Reaction in quotes class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7533996.stm">Israeli PM's party leadership rivals | |
| Mr Olmert has already denied all wrongdoing. | Mr Olmert has already denied all wrongdoing. |
| The prime minister had faced mounting pressure from within his own party to resign and it had become clear that he would have been humiliated had he stood in the September ballot, the BBC's Wyre Davies reports from Jerusalem. | The prime minister had faced mounting pressure from within his own party to resign and it had become clear that he would have been humiliated had he stood in the September ballot, the BBC's Wyre Davies reports from Jerusalem. |
| Many analysts say Mr Olmert's weak political position has severely impaired chances for a peace deal with the Palestinians by the end of the year, our correspondent adds. | Many analysts say Mr Olmert's weak political position has severely impaired chances for a peace deal with the Palestinians by the end of the year, our correspondent adds. |
| A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the announcement was "an internal Israeli matter" and that Palestinian negotiators still hoped to reach a peace settlement before the end of this year. | A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the announcement was "an internal Israeli matter" and that Palestinian negotiators still hoped to reach a peace settlement before the end of this year. |
| The US state department said that peace negotiations would continue and that it looked forward to "working with all responsible Israeli leaders in the government". | The US state department said that peace negotiations would continue and that it looked forward to "working with all responsible Israeli leaders in the government". |
| 'Public interest' | 'Public interest' |
| The scandal is one of six corruption investigations Mr Olmert has faced during his time in office. | The scandal is one of six corruption investigations Mr Olmert has faced during his time in office. |
| EHUD OLMERT'S POLITICAL LIFE 1993: Begins 10-year stint as mayor of Jerusalem2005: Leaves right-wing Likud party with former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to form Kadima2006: Takes over as leader when Ariel Sharon suffers a stroke2007: Helps relaunch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks after seven-year hiatus2008: Announces plans to resign | EHUD OLMERT'S POLITICAL LIFE 1993: Begins 10-year stint as mayor of Jerusalem2005: Leaves right-wing Likud party with former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to form Kadima2006: Takes over as leader when Ariel Sharon suffers a stroke2007: Helps relaunch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks after seven-year hiatus2008: Announces plans to resign |
| Mr Olmert said he felt able to continue carrying out his duties despite the corruption investigation but he asked: | Mr Olmert said he felt able to continue carrying out his duties despite the corruption investigation but he asked: |
| "What is more important, my personal justice or the public interest?" | "What is more important, my personal justice or the public interest?" |
| Noting that the investigation was turning people against him, he said that "people hurting my family bothers me a lot". | Noting that the investigation was turning people against him, he said that "people hurting my family bothers me a lot". |
| He complained of "relentless attacks from self-appointed 'fighters for justice' who sought to depose me from my position, when the ends sanctified all the means". | He complained of "relentless attacks from self-appointed 'fighters for justice' who sought to depose me from my position, when the ends sanctified all the means". |
| The Israeli prime minister also seemed to direct veiled criticisms against the justice system, saying "the prime minister is not above the law but he is in no way below it". | The Israeli prime minister also seemed to direct veiled criticisms against the justice system, saying "the prime minister is not above the law but he is in no way below it". |
| "I am proud to be the prime minister of a country that investigates its prime ministers," he remarked. | "I am proud to be the prime minister of a country that investigates its prime ministers," he remarked. |
| Possible successors | Possible successors |
| Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, one of Israel's most popular politicians, is tipped to replace Mr Olmert in the party contest. | Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, one of Israel's most popular politicians, is tipped to replace Mr Olmert in the party contest. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY This is a good move and long overdue, Olmert is a weak PM in a country that cannot afford to have weak leaders. James, JerusalemSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY This is a good move and long overdue, Olmert is a weak PM in a country that cannot afford to have weak leaders. James, JerusalemSend us your comments |
| A former protege of Ariel Sharon, she helped broker Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. | A former protege of Ariel Sharon, she helped broker Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. |
| She is viewed as one of the few centrists in the government not tainted by corruption, and champions a vision of Israel co-existing with a Palestinian state. | She is viewed as one of the few centrists in the government not tainted by corruption, and champions a vision of Israel co-existing with a Palestinian state. |
| However, critics argue that she lacks the military and political experience to lead the country. | However, critics argue that she lacks the military and political experience to lead the country. |
| Shaul Mofaz, Avi Dichter and Meir Sheetrit are also seen as contenders for the party leadership. | Shaul Mofaz, Avi Dichter and Meir Sheetrit are also seen as contenders for the party leadership. |