JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel, embroiled in a high-profile corruption investigation, announced Wednesday that he would resign his office as soon as his party chose a new leader in September. In a televised public statement made from his official residence in Jerusalem, Olmert said he would not take part in the leadership election for his Kadima Party, opening the way for the next party leader to try to form a new government. "I have decided not to compete in the primaries in Kadima," he said. "I will resign from my role as prime minister to allow a new leader to form a new government efficiently and quickly." Olmert had agreed with the Labor Party, his partner in the coalition, to hold the internal election in September to try to keep the coalition together as the corruption inquiry continued.
JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel, embroiled in a high-profile corruption investigation, announced Wednesday that he would resign his office as soon as his party chose a new leader in September.
In a televised public statement made from his official residence in Jerusalem, Olmert said he would not take part in the leadership election for his Kadima Party, opening the way for the next party leader to try to form a new government.
"I have decided not to compete in the primaries in Kadima," he said. "I will resign from my role as prime minister to allow a new leader to form a new government efficiently and quickly."
Olmert had agreed with the Labor Party, his partner in the coalition, to hold the internal election in September to try to keep the coalition together as the corruption inquiry continued.
Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, tonight tearfully announced that he would step down in September, ending months of speculation over whether he could ride out a string of corruption probes. "I have decided I won't run in the Kadima movement primaries, nor do I intend to intervene in the elections," said Mr Olmert, tears glistening in his eyes as he made an impromptu announcement from his Jerusalem office. "I have made mistakes and I regret it," said the 62-year-old, who is also battling prostate cancer. The disclosure is likely to have a juddering effect on the fraught Middle East peace process, since much of the recent progress in talks with the Palestinians had hinged on the close personal bond Mr Olmert had forged with the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas.
Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, tonight tearfully announced that he would step down in September, ending months of speculation over whether he could ride out a string of corruption probes.
"I have decided I won't run in the Kadima movement primaries, nor do I intend to intervene in the elections," said Mr Olmert, tears glistening in his eyes as he made an impromptu announcement from his Jerusalem office.
"I have made mistakes and I regret it," said the 62-year-old, who is also battling prostate cancer.
The disclosure is likely to have a juddering effect on the fraught Middle East peace process, since much of the recent progress in talks with the Palestinians had hinged on the close personal bond Mr Olmert had forged with the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas.
