Israeli PM gives go-ahead for Kadima primary

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday agreed to start preparations for his ruling Kadima party's primary election, amid snowballing calls for the scandal-plagued national leader to step down. The Kadima chairman, who is embroiled in a legal battle over suspicions that he took illicit funds from New York financier Morris Talansky before becoming the prime minister, gave the go-ahead when meeting with senior Kadima members Tzachi Hanegbi and Eli Aflalo. "The prime minister instructed us to act quickly to set primaries in Kadima. The process has started running," local daily The Jerusalem Post quoted Hanegbi as saying. He added that he will convene the Kadima faction next week to continue the process. With the exact date unknown yet, Hanegbi said he did not expectthe primary to be held before the July 17... [read full story]