Former prime minister Ehud Olmert plans to decide this week whether he will run
in the upcoming election or not.
A source denied that the former prime
minister would publicize his intentions on Monday night, when he is scheduled to
give a speech at a Tel Aviv University Institute for Applied Diplomacy
conference, saying that the speech will be “purely diplomatic.”
“Olmert
is still making inquiries,” a source told The Jerusalem Post on
Sunday.
“Monday isn’t a deadline set in stone, but I estimate he will
make a decision soon.”
Last Tuesday, the State Attorney’s Office decided
to appeal Olmert’s acquittal in corruption cases, making it less likely for him
to run, though his spokesman Amir Dan called the appeal “a personal and wicked
witch hunt that was a waste of the public’s funds.”
The former prime
minister’s decision on whether or not to make a comeback will be coordinated
with his successor as Kadima leader, former foreign minister Tzipi Livni, who is
likely to run, as well as former Kadima council chairman Haim Ramon. If Olmert
does not run, Livni is likely to form a new party.
Olmert also met with
former IDF chief of staff Lt.- Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi last week, to discuss
the possibility of presenting him as candidate for defense minister.
Last Tuesday, the State Attorney's Office decided to appeal Olmert's acquittal in corruption cases, making it less likely for him to run, though his spokesman Amir Dan called the appeal "a personal and wicked witch hung that was a waste of the public's funds."
