JERUSALEM — Israel's defense minister said Wednesday that he would use his political clout to bring down the coalition government if Prime Minister Ehud Olmert does not step aside to face possible bribery charges.
The ultimatum by Ehud Barak, a former prime minister who heads the coalition's second-biggest party, raised pressure on the Israeli leader to resign or at least temporarily step aside before a criminal investigation runs its course.
Israel is abuzz with speculation about how Olmert might fall, who would replace him and with what effect on peace talks with Syria and the Palestinians. Here are some questions Israelis are pondering:
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How did Olmert get into this jam?
Israeli leaders have no immunity from investigation or indictment. Amid growing popular disgust with official corruption, Israel's independent state controller had opened several inquiries into Olmert's conduct in office before his rise to the prime minister's job in 2006. Evidence that Olmert took cash-stuffed envelopes from wealthy New York contributor Morris Talansky came to light in one of those investigations. Talansky's recollection in court Tuesday of payments totaling about $150,000 over 15 years was the most politically damaging testimony yet.
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What is Olmert's defense?
He says he took the money for legitimate campaign expenses, not political favors, and will prove his innocence. Polls show most Israelis disbelieve him. By promising this month to resign if indicted in the slow-moving inquiry, Olmert had hoped to buy several months' time and keep a decision about his fate in the hands of Israel's independent attorney general, not those of rival politicians.
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Why is his coalition partner moving against him now?
Barak wants to be prime minister again and, in the wake of Talansky's testimony, cannot afford to stick up for Olmert. Potential rivals for the post were already calling for Olmert's resignation. In distancing himself from his boss, Barak said Olmert cannot lead peace negotiations and look after Israel's security needs while grappling with a criminal inquiry. He called on Olmert to resign or take a leave of absence, but he set no deadline.
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What could Barak do to bring him down?
