Starting Saturday night, with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s (Kadima) and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni’s (Kadima) departure to the Mediterranean Summit in Paris, Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon (Kadima) has been confirmed as Acting Prime Minister by the Cabinet. The ministers reportedly approved the appointment by telephone without any formal meeting. Ramon previously was Acting Prime Minister during Olmert and Livni’s absence for the 2007 Annapolis Conference.
Although Olmert and Livni will remain in constant contact with the government in Israel, in case of any emergency Ramon will decide Israel’s response. He will also have to, according to sources, "deal with his political rival" Defense Minister Ehud Barak (Labor).
Although Olmert and Livni will remain in constant contact with the government in Israel, in case of any emergency Ramon will decide Israel’s response. He will also have to, according to sources, "deal with his political rival" Defense Minister Ehud Barak (Labor).