Embattled Israeli PM gets party backing

Top party members closed ranks behind Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today, praising his response to bribery suspicions that could force him from office and disrupt peace efforts with the Palestinians.

Olmert pressed on with his duties, chairing the weekly cabinet meeting and shifting his public focus towards a visit this week by U.S. President George W. Bush to celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary and promote peacemaking.

"It is absolutely clear that right now it is not possible to demand of (Olmert) more than he has already said -- that he would resign the moment there is an indictment," said Finance Minister Roni Bar-On, a member of Olmert's Kadima party.

Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz, speaking at a meeting called by Olmert with Kadima ministers in his cabinet, said: "Every citizen has the right to be considered innocent ... We must let him continue running the country."

Party sources said only Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Olmert's main party rival, made no comments at the meeting.

Denying taking bribes, Olmert said on Thursday he would quit if the attorney-general indicted him in an investigation into funds received from an American businessman.

The prime minister did not refer in remarks to the cabinet to the latest in a series of corruption allegations against him.

He focused instead on the Bush visit and violence on the Israel-Gaza border, referring to the "substantive matters of crucial strategic value" to Israel's future which he said he would discuss with the U.S. leader.

In a speech to Jewish philanthropists on Sunday, Olmert repeated a pledge he had made on Saturday to press ahead with peacemaking.

"We are absolutely committed to move forward in our peace talks to reach an understanding with the Palestinian people (for) a breakthrough which will help us and them ... to live in slightly more security for all of us," Olmert said.

Legal sources say police suspect Olmert took hundreds of thousands of dollars from New York Jewish financier Morris Talansky over a decade.

Olmert said any funds from Talansky were contributions to two campaigns he fought for Jerusalem mayor in the 1990s and for posts in his former political party, Likud, in 1999 and 2002.

Israeli law broadly prohibits political donations of more than a few hundred dollars and senior figures, including the son of Olmert's predecessor Ariel Sharon, have been jailed for accepting larger or undeclared sums.

Bush, who has set himself the goal of reaching an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before he leaves office in January, arrives in Israel on Wednesday.

The White House has played down the possible effect of the scandal, insisting Olmert is not the only leader committed to the peace process with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Palestinian officials have acknowledged privately that Olmert's troubles could derail statehood talks.

© 2008 ireland.com