According to senior Kadima officials, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is not expected to run in the party’s leadership race, but they do believe he will remain in office at least until after the Knesset summer recess, most likely until after the Yomim Tovim.

If this is the case, and the newly-elected Kadima Party leader is unsuccessful in establishing a coalition government, then general elections will take place. Such a scenario would place Olmert in the prime minister’s seat for an additional three months, until elections, heading the transition government.

This week, candidates interested in running for the Kadima leadership must announce their intentions and the party’s election committee will begin preparing the groundwork for the party primaries.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)