OhMerde

Carl in Jerusalem updates at 8:48 pm Israel time:

In summary, Olmert said he would resign as soon as the Kadima primary elects a new leader and that person forms a government. The Kadima election would be in late September. But if that person cannot form a new government, we would go to new elections. Olmert could remain Prime Minister until the new elections. That could be December or January - enough time to do a lot of damage or to attack Iran. Or to give the Golan to Syria in exchange for talking to him directly.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who is currently in the US, said that Olmert should have reached the same conclusion six months ago (I would have said two years ago) and that Olmert's term in office has been 'a farce.'

By the way, the reason Olmert addressed the nation tonight is that Livni, her main Kadima rival (Transportation Minister) Shaul Mofaz, and Defense Minister and Labor Party leader Ehud Barak are all in the United States right now.

Don't get too excited: Olmert could be in office until MARCH. Carl explains; read it all.

If my blogging gets lite, it's because Yeshiva Son is on his way home from Israel. We haven't seen him in a year, so I'm planning on being happily distracted... at least through Shabbos.