Addressing a Likud faction meeting on Tuesday, senior party official Silvan Shalom stated that on next Wednesday, Likud will move to pass a preliminary reading of a bill intended to dissolve the current Knesset and take a first step to bring the Olmert administration to an end.

Shalom explained that on June 18th the party will take the first step in the “respectable and hopefully short process” towards early elections, which he hopes will take place in November. Shalom is calling on Olmert to bring a respectful end to his tenure, and avoid an embarrassing situation.

Shalom is working diligently with party member Gideon Saar to enlist support to ensure the bill passes its preliminary reading.

Party leader Binyamin Netanyahu added that placing the national interests at the forefront leaves only one option, early elections.

In a surprise move, the radical left-wing Meretz opposition party announced that if Kadima does not take the initiative and announce a date for early elections, the party will also support the Likud bill to dissolve the Knesset.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)