israelinsider: politics: Labor minister first to resign from cabinet in wake of Winograd report

Israel's daily newsmagazine

Winograd

Tips to sharpen searches:
Put two or more words in quotation marks to find an exact phrase:
"Ariel Sharon"

Connect two or more words/phrases with "AND" for results that include both:
"Ariel Sharon" AND Netanyahu

Separate words with "OR" for results which include either of the words/phrases:
"separation fence" OR wall OR barrier

close


		search tips


		Sign up for free! E-mail




Labor MK Eitan Cabel (photo: Knesset website)


	Calls for Olmert's resignation not lacking
	Analysis: Olmert's hand-picked commission turns on its creator
	PM Olmert: "We will correct everything that needs correcting"
	Winograd report: Prime Minister Olmert a 'severe failure'
	Olmert, Peretz brace for Winograd report's Monday release
	Winograd commission: Government should have resigned after war
	High Court: Winograd testimonies must be published before interim report
	PM's Office slams High Court for Winograd release
	Kadima fears early elections following Winograd's disclosures on Olmert

Labor minister first to resign from cabinet in wake of Winograd report

By israelinsider staff May 1, 2007

Bookmark to del.icio.us

Labor Party minister Eitan Cabel became the first minister to resign Tuesday from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government in the wake of the release of the Winograd report, saying he hoped other cabinet members would follow suit.

At a press conference in Tel Aviv Tuesday morning Cabel said, "Ehud Olmert is responsible for the war's failures and must resign. The public has lost its faith in the prime minister. I cannot sit in a government with Olmert at its head.

"There have been enough scandals in the short period of the government but the war is above them all. I feel the heartstrings of the public, which has lost its faith in Olmert's leadership."

The MK said he hoped other ministers would follow his lead and resign. "I will see to it that my resignation will lead other coalition partners to realize that it is everyone's duty to work toward Olmert's resignation."

Cabel also said he would ask his choice for Labor chairman, Ehud Barak, not to join Olmert's cabinet. Barak has so far remained silent on the matter.

Cabel said that if another Kadima member took over as prime minister and Olmert quit, he would consider returning to the cabinet. He added that he would remain in the Knesset.

"I don't see my decision [to quit] as populist," Cabel said. "I see it as ethical and principled."

Meretz Chairman Yossi Beilin expressed his support for Cabel's decision, saying, "All of the Labor ministers should follow in the footsteps of Ophir Pines-Paz and Eitan Cabel and leave the failing government that has lost its moral validity.

"I laud Cabel's move. The Labor remaining in the government is reaching new levels of sick devotion."

Talk Back! Respond to this article

Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the

icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.