Former Premier Ehud Barak, trying to regain control of his Labour Party, today called for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign because of the harsh findings of an inquiry into last year’s Lebanon war.

A former prime minister and a political newcomer who both pledge to bring down Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s government will face each other in a run-off after an inconclusive vote for leadership of Israel’s Labour Party.

Political newcomer Ami Ayalon and Israeli former Prime Minister Ehud Barak were locked in a close race for leadership of the Labour Party today, according to poll results broadcast on television stations.

Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak announced his much-anticipated return to politics, saying he will run for the leadership of the Labour Party, a first step towards trying for Israel’s highest office again.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has rejected the “false promise” of an immediate ceasefire in the spreading war between Israel and Hezbollah and says she would seek long-term peace during a trip to the Middle East beginning tomorrow.

With formal peacemaking a dim prospect at this volatile time, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert intends to sound out US President George Bush today about Olmert’s ambitious plan to impose a West Bank settlement on the Palestinians.

THE Israeli ambassador to the United States yesterday said Israel will be ready to start withdrawing troops from Palestinian territories, if terrorist attacks against Israel were halted.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon may end Yasser Arafat’s isolation in his besieged West Bank headquarters and let the Palestinian leader return to Gaza.