What Is This World Coming To?

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is expected to announce that he will ‘not stand in the way’ of his Kadima Party beginning the process of initiating a primary to choose his replacement. Olmert made the commitment following ‘heart-to-heart’ talks with party officials.

Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Tzahi Hanegbi told an Israeli version of “Meet the Press” that he envisioned a national unity coalition government between Kadima, Labor and the Likud Parties. One thing he is certain of is that Olmert’s government is on the verge of collapse.

“I consulted with Olmert and senior Kadima officials on the matter and, clearly, [I think] it is impossible to hold this crumbling coalition together,” Hanegbi said. “Even if Barak does not quit, Shas will leave the coalition, and if Shas doesn’t leave, Barak will.”

A Ma’ariv poll showed that if elections were held now, a Binyamin Netanyahu-led Likud would win 30 mandates, a Livni-led Kadima would get 25 and Labor under Barak would win 18. If Mofaz were Kadima’s candidate, Likud would win 31 seats, Kadima 18 and Labor 21.