A poll published Monday by daily newspaper Yediot Acharonot showed that 59 percent of the public think Prime Minister Ehud Olmert should step down, or at least suspend himself voluntarily until the criminal investigation against him runs its course. Sixty percent of the public does not believe Olmert's claims that he never took any of the money given by Morris Talansky for his personal use.
The same poll would appear to show that Kadima, if headed by Tzipi Livni, could win the general elections if held today. The poll found that if the public had to choose between Binyamin Netanyahu (Likud), Tzipi Livni (Kadima), and Ehud Barak (Labor), Kadima would win 27 seats while the Likud would garner 23 seats and Labor would receive 15. Were Kadima to be headed by Sha'ul Mofaz, it would receive only 17 seats. Under Meir Sheetrit, Kadima would take just 13 parliamentary seats.
In a seeming contradiction, the poll showed that 37 percent of the public think that Netanyahu is the most fitting person to lead the country at present. Livni did not even come in second; Barak was the runner up, with 20 percent.
'Olmert - We're Behind You!'
The situation has created tension between Olmert and Livni, whose relations have been cool ever since last year, when Livni called for Olmert's resignation after publication of the interim report of the Winograd Commission on the Second Lebanon War. Olmert's confidantes noted that Livni has not been supportive of Olmert in the present crisis, preferring to keep mum and voice confidence in the police instead of expressing faith that Olmert will be acquitted, as other ministers have done.
A gathering of central Kadima activists was held in Petach Tikva Sunday night, and the group voiced loud support of Olmert. This is apparently meant to signal that Olmert is stronger politically than some may think, despite the latest investigation scandal. Olmert supporters shouted "Olmert – we are behind you!" and sent warnings to ministers who failed to publicly support the Prime Minister in his time of trouble.
'He Will Bury the Party'
The poll showed that 37 percent of the public think that Netanyahu is the most fitting person to lead the country at present. Livni did not even come in second.
Olmert has said that if the Attorney General decides to indict him, he will resign. This would lead to new elections, in which either Livni is likely to run as head of Kadima. Some sources say Olmert is considering naming Transportation Minister Sha'ul Mofaz as his successor, in place of Livni. According to other speculation, Olmert intends to make Livni's life difficult in order to bring about her resignation.
Senior Kadima sources quoted in Ynet called on Olmert to stop attacking Livni, because such criticism only damages Kadima in the end. They also said that Olmert's political future was ending while Livni could turn out to be the leader who saves the party. "If Olmert hurts Livni he will wind up burying the party," they said.
