Damn tragedy this guy having to leave just when things were looking up for peace. How can people be so shallow as to worry about incompetence and corruption when permanent global peace is at stake? Ehud Olmert's decision to leave office in the middle of make-or-break Mideast diplomacy has dealt a serious setback to delicate peace negotiations with both the Palestinians and Syria. Chances are good that the next Israeli leader will take a hard line toward the country's Arab neighbours.
However, if Prime Minister Olmert is able to lock in some progress in the time he has left, his successor could have a hard time reversing it. And it's also possible that he won't be replaced by a hawk, even though current polls show former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposes most peace concessions, to be Israel's most popular politician.
In an emotion-filled announcement on Wednesday, Mr Olmert said he will step down next month rather than run in his Kadima Party's primary election, which was called in response to a string of corruption probes against the prime minister.
The intricacies of Israel's parliamentary politics could make it possible for Mr Olmert _ who faces a potential indictment on charges that he took bribes from an elderly American Jewish businessman _ to hold on to office for a number of months, possibly well into 2009.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/020808_News/02Aug2008_news22.php
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