THE HEAD of Israel's ruling Kadima party, Tzipi Livni, yesterday urged caretaker prime minister Ehud Olmert to immediately take a leave of absence in response to the announcement by the attorney general that he is considering indicting him on corruption charges.
Ms Livni, who also serves as foreign minister, convened Kadima parliamentarians and told them the party must make its position clear. "The prime minister must take leave. There is no other option," she said, arguing that the issue was a moral test for the country.
She stressed that Mr Olmert was innocent until proven guilty, but must fight to clear his name from home and not as prime minister.
The Kadima parliamentary faction unanimously endorsed the call for Mr Olmert to quit.
On Wednesday, attorney general Menahem Mazuz informed the prime minister he was considering pressing charges, pending a hearing in connection with double-billing allegations in what has been named the "Rishon Tours" affair, after the travel agency which handled Mr Olmert's flights.
Mr Olmert, when serving as trade minister and mayor of Jerusalem, was suspected of travelling abroad on behalf of the state, and simultaneously charging a number of Jewish charity organisations for the cost of the flights, in return for speaking engagements.
He was suspected of benefiting to the tune of $85,000 (€66,000) and using the funds to pay for trips for himself and family members.
The indictment will probably include charges of fraud and breach of trust, and, if convicted, Mr Olmert faces a maximum seven-year sentence.
The attorney general also informed Mr Olmert's former bureau chief, Shula Zaken, that she faces charges in the affair.
Lawyers for the prime minister said he totally rejected the charges against him and had no intention of suspending himself.
Mr Olmert resigned as prime minister in September, but is continuing as caretaker prime minister until a new government is sworn in after elections on February 10th.
If he does take a leave of absence, or is forced from office, Ms Livni will automatically take his place due to her position as deputy prime minister.
Ms Livni was recently elected to succeed Mr Olmert as leader of the ruling Kadima party.
Polls show her as the main challenger to Benjamin Netanyahu, the head of the right-wing Likud party, in the election campaign. It is believed that running as prime minister would significantly boost her standing.