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Defiant Israeli PM vows to stay | Defiant Israeli PM vows to stay |
(40 minutes later) | |
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he will stay in office despite a call by a key ally to take a leave of absence or quit over corruption claims. | |
"I am not going to give up," Mr Olmert said in Jerusalem. | "I am not going to give up," Mr Olmert said in Jerusalem. |
He was speaking after Defence Minister Ehud Barak warned he would take his Labour Party out of Mr Olmert's ruling coalition if he did not step down. | He was speaking after Defence Minister Ehud Barak warned he would take his Labour Party out of Mr Olmert's ruling coalition if he did not step down. |
Mr Olmert denies claims that he took up to $500,000 (£250,000) in bribes or illegal campaign donations. | Mr Olmert denies claims that he took up to $500,000 (£250,000) in bribes or illegal campaign donations. |
"I am going to continue to exercise my functions," Mr Olmert said at a meeting with representatives of Israeli communities situated close to the Gaza Strip. | "I am going to continue to exercise my functions," Mr Olmert said at a meeting with representatives of Israeli communities situated close to the Gaza Strip. |
"Some people think that each time an investigation is launched it has to lead to a resignation. But I don't share that opinion," he said. | "Some people think that each time an investigation is launched it has to lead to a resignation. But I don't share that opinion," he said. |
Mr Olmert, now the head of the Kadima party, admits accepting funds before he became prime minister in 2006. | Mr Olmert, now the head of the Kadima party, admits accepting funds before he became prime minister in 2006. |
But he insists they were legal contributions towards his campaigns for re-election as Jerusalem mayor and for the leadership of the Likud party. | But he insists they were legal contributions towards his campaigns for re-election as Jerusalem mayor and for the leadership of the Likud party. |
I do not think the prime minister can simultaneously run the government and deal with his own personal affair Ehud BarakIsraeli Defence Minister | I do not think the prime minister can simultaneously run the government and deal with his own personal affair Ehud BarakIsraeli Defence Minister |
He has previously said he has no plans to step aside unless he is charged. | He has previously said he has no plans to step aside unless he is charged. |
Kadima has just 29 MPs out of a total of 120 seats in the parliament, the Knesset, and relies on the Labour Party's 19 MPs as key allies in its governing coalition. | Kadima has just 29 MPs out of a total of 120 seats in the parliament, the Knesset, and relies on the Labour Party's 19 MPs as key allies in its governing coalition. |
Mr Barak's resignation call is a very damaging blow to Mr Olmert, the BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says. | Mr Barak's resignation call is a very damaging blow to Mr Olmert, the BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says. |
Most seasoned political analysts in Israel believe it spells his certain demise as prime minister, our Middle East correspondent says. | Most seasoned political analysts in Israel believe it spells his certain demise as prime minister, our Middle East correspondent says. |
Barak's warning | Barak's warning |
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Barak said he did not think Mr Olmert could run the government and deal with the fall-out from the allegations at the same time. | Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Barak said he did not think Mr Olmert could run the government and deal with the fall-out from the allegations at the same time. |
ISRAELI KNESSET Kadima: 29 MPsLabour: 19 MPsShas: 12 MPsLikud: 12 MPsYisrael Beiteinu: 11 MPsOthers: 37 MPs | ISRAELI KNESSET Kadima: 29 MPsLabour: 19 MPsShas: 12 MPsLikud: 12 MPsYisrael Beiteinu: 11 MPsOthers: 37 MPs |
"The prime minister needs to disconnect himself from the day-to-day management of the government. | "The prime minister needs to disconnect himself from the day-to-day management of the government. |
"He can do this in any of the ways open to him - suspension, vacation or resignation or declaring himself incapacitated. We will not be the ones to determine this," he said. | "He can do this in any of the ways open to him - suspension, vacation or resignation or declaring himself incapacitated. We will not be the ones to determine this," he said. |
But Mr Barak warned that if Mr Olmert did not leave, "we will act towards setting an agreed and early date for elections". | But Mr Barak warned that if Mr Olmert did not leave, "we will act towards setting an agreed and early date for elections". |
He was speaking a day after the US businessman at the centre of the allegations told investigators that he gave Mr Olmert envelopes full of cash. | He was speaking a day after the US businessman at the centre of the allegations told investigators that he gave Mr Olmert envelopes full of cash. |
Morris Talansky was questioned by investigators, and is due to be cross-examined by Mr Olmert's defence team in July. | Morris Talansky was questioned by investigators, and is due to be cross-examined by Mr Olmert's defence team in July. |
However, our correspondent notes that Mr Barak did not issue an ultimatum with a precise deadline attached. | However, our correspondent notes that Mr Barak did not issue an ultimatum with a precise deadline attached. |
Italian holiday | Italian holiday |
Testifying in an Israeli court on Tuesday, Mr Talansky said he handed over about $150,000 of his own money to Mr Olmert, directly and through aides, over a 15-year period. | Testifying in an Israeli court on Tuesday, Mr Talansky said he handed over about $150,000 of his own money to Mr Olmert, directly and through aides, over a 15-year period. |
Mr Talansky said the money was often handed over in cash-stuffed envelopes | Mr Talansky said the money was often handed over in cash-stuffed envelopes |
The rest of the money came from fundraising. | The rest of the money came from fundraising. |
He said he did not know how the money had been spent, adding: "I only know he loved expensive cigars. I know he loved pens, watches." | He said he did not know how the money had been spent, adding: "I only know he loved expensive cigars. I know he loved pens, watches." |
Mr Talansky said that Mr Olmert also asked him for a personal loan of $25,000-$30,000 for a holiday in Italy. | Mr Talansky said that Mr Olmert also asked him for a personal loan of $25,000-$30,000 for a holiday in Italy. |
In another case, he said, he walked to a bank to withdraw $15,000 in cash for a loan as Mr Olmert waited in a luxury hotel. | In another case, he said, he walked to a bank to withdraw $15,000 in cash for a loan as Mr Olmert waited in a luxury hotel. |
Mr Talansky said he thought Mr Olmert's "word was gold", but that Mr Olmert never repaid either loan. | Mr Talansky said he thought Mr Olmert's "word was gold", but that Mr Olmert never repaid either loan. |
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