Campaign to oust Israeli Prime Minister shifts to streets

A campaign to oust Prime Minister Ehud Olmert shifted to the streets today, with a mass rally in Tel Aviv expected to draw tens of thousands of opponents calling for the embattled Israeli leader to step down.

Mr Olmert, under fire for his handling of last summer’s war against Lebanese guerrillas, appeared to be quashing an incipient rebellion against him in the ranks of his Kadima Party – at least for now.

Yesterday, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, a party heavyweight, called on him to quit, and another top party figure, parliamentary coalition chief Avigdor Yitzhaki, resigned to protest against Olmert’s refusal to step down.

But other Kadima officials rallied around their beleaguered chief, no doubt mindful that a widespread mutiny could lead to early elections that could hurt the party. Polls indicate hawkish former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the opposition Likud Party, would win if new elections were held.

Mr Olmert himself said he intended to stay on to remedy the severe flaws in decision-making and crisis management that a government war probe identified in a scathing report released on Monday. Mr Olmert was singled out in the report for exceptional censure.

At an emergency Kadima meeting called after Ms Livni’s announcement yesterday, Mr Olmert said he would implement the war report’s recommendations “down to the last detail”.

“I’m personally in an uncomfortable position, but I’m over 60, and have had a lot of experience,” spokesman Jacob Galanti quoted him as saying. “I’ve learned to take responsibility for my actions.”

Israel’s parliament was to interrupt its spring recess today to hold a special session to discuss the war probe.

Hostilities erupted on July 12 when Hezbollah guerrillas crossed into Israel, killed three soldiers and captured two others.

In 34 days of fighting, Israel failed to achieve the two main goals Olmert set: to return the soldiers and crush Hezbollah. Instead, Hezbollah fired nearly 4,000 rockets into northern Israel.

Nearly 160 Israelis and more than 1,000 Lebanese died in the fighting, and Israeli soldiers returned from battle complaining of conflicting orders and shortages of food and ammunition.

Opinion polls released yesterday show two out of three Israelis want Olmert out now.