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MK Steinitz: "If the PM and cabinet retain any ounce of patriotism or feeling of responsibility...they must resign immediately" (photo: Knesset)
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| By israelinsider staff May 1, 2007 |
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Calls for Olmert's resignation in the wake of the Winograd's scathing criticism of the management of the Second Lebanon War are being leveled at the Prime Minister from government officials across party lines.
Likud Chairman MK Gideon Sa'ar has demanded that the government resign, saying, "The report leads to just one conclusion: The failed government no longer has moral validity to rule. It must return the mandate to the people immediately."
Likud MK Yuval Steinitz agreed with Sa'ar, saying, "The bottom line in the report is that last summer Israel did not have effective political and security leadership in a time of war. There can be no worse problem in a democratic state. If the prime minister and cabinet retain any ounce of patriotism or feeling of responsibility towards our small nation, they must resign immediately and return the mandate to the voters."
Likud MK Silvan Shalom said, "There's no more room for survival games and political manipulations. I will act by any means possible to bring down this government," Shalom vowed.
Likud is not alone in its call for the government to step down. Chairman of the National Religious Party, Zevulun Orlev, demanded that Olmert "hand back the keys."
He said, "If the prime minister didn't quit when he was being criminally investigated, the Winograd Commission has left him no choice but to resign due to the failures and shortcomings which led to the loss of soldiers' and citizens' lives, and prevented achieving the war's aims -- chiefly the return of the kidnapped soldiers and the disarmament of Hizbullah."
Meretz Chairman Zahava Gal-On said, "What the commission should have said and didn't say was 'Olmert and Peretz go home'. Albeit the criticism is sharp and the comments against the prime minister and defense minister are grave, but the minute there aren't operative conclusions and there's no eviction notice, the commission's conclusions have no moral force.
"Olmert and Peretz must go home. They are reckless, irresponsible leaders who gambled on soldiers' and citizens' lives, and they must join Halutz on the outside," Gal-On said.
Meretz MK Yossi Beilin said the Winograd report's findings "leave no room for interpretation."
"Amir Peretz must immediately withdraw his candidacy to head Labor and the government, and Olmert must not wait for the protests and cries of the bereaved families. If he has one drop of national responsibility left ... his only contribution to the state can be his resignation," Beilin said.
MK Ran Cohen (Meretz-Yahad) said the severe report "indicates the unequivocal failure of Olmert and Peretz to fulfill their positions. If that is not enough, the decision will pass to the public arena, which will determine their sentence and decide the fate of the failed leaders."
Letter circulating on internet
A chain letter written by Education Ministry spokesman Avinoam Magen calling for Olmert's resignation is being distributed on the internet.
Magen explained, "It has nothing to do with the Education Ministry, of course. It is my position and the position of a few friends, a personal position.
"We spoke about the issue after seeing Winograd and listening to bereaved parents. We distributed the letter by email. This is a public position that I personally support. I think a person should express his personal positions. I am a citizen first," Magen said, according to Ynetnews.
The letter slams the Prime Minister for saying he would not resign. Part of the letter reads,
"What reason do you have to stay on as prime minister, a role you inherited by chance in a moment of cosmic mix up, which lead to tragedy for you and the State of Israel?...
"You need not confess in order for the entire nation of Israel to be convinced of your guilt...
"Think again Ehud, and for all our sakes, respectfully, resign."
Petition filed with High Court
Yossi Fuchs, a lawyer, filed a petition with the High Court on Tuesday, calling for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's discharge.
According to Fuchs, the Olmert is trying to "avoid justice at any price" and is holding the Israeli public hostage.
Fuchs, who served as a reserve soldier in the Second Lebanon War, said, "When a prime minister in Israel fails so seriously in the state's most crucial test, he does not get an opportunity for a retake."
Reactions from coalition members more moderate
Coalition chairman MK Avigdor Itzchaky (Kadima) said, "The report is very, very hard. The Kadima faction must perform a thorough review to ascertain that its future role as a governmental party is ensured," Ynetnews reported.
MK Matan Vilnai (Labor) was even more restrained in his comments, "This is a moment of truth for Israel and its government. This is not the time for chopping heads and political battles. The public will determine the leaders' futures. The only way to prevent failure such as we were exposed to during the last war is to internalize and assimilate the lessons into the system and to instill them for the long run."
Kadima MK Yoel Hasson said the public should not see the current situation as a reason to ridicule the government.
He said, "Nasrallah did not manage to win the war -- don't let him win it now. The report should be read with professionalism, and not be turned into a political battering ram. The prime minister must implement necessary changes in his government and begin by studying the report, reaching conclusions and implementing lessons to prepare for coming challenges."
MK Menahem Ben-Sasson (Kadima) said Kadima MKs should continue to support Olmert, the government and the IDF officers "who acted out of a single interest: To protect the state and its citizens and to bring the boys home." |
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