Livni calls on Olmert to leave office

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Tzipi Livni called on Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to leave his office.
The head of Israel’s ruling Kadima party made the call Thursday afternoon during a party faction meeting. If Olmert vacated his post, Livni would become acting prime minister, which could boost her chances in the upcoming national elections in February.
The call came following the attorney general’s announcement Wednesday that he would likely indict Olmert in the Rishon Tours double-billing scandal, pending a hearing.
"The Prime Minister, just as any other citizen, is innocent until proven guilty, but the citizen Ehud Olmert must conduct the battle to clear his name from home and not from his Knesset seat," said Livni,
Livni replaced Olmert as Kadima party head in September following a party primary election.
Under investigation in six separate cases, Olmert tendered his resignation over the summer, which will become effective after the national elections.