Olmert rejects Labor talk of early elections

     Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has no intention of setting a date for early elections together with Labor Chairman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, sources close to the prime minister said Monday. They were responding to predictions by Labor politicians that Barak would respond to the Winograd Committee's full report on the Second Lebanon War, due out Wednesday, by working to advance the elections to early 2009. The premier's associates said Olmert has no intention of turning himself into a lame duck by advancing the elections. Moreover, they argued, early elections would paralyze the country, damage the economy and destroy the peace process, which Labor supports. "How would it be possible to advance the diplomatic process when everyone would be wanting to sharpen his positions?" demanded one of Olmert's associates. "Our negotiating partner would also understand that it is impossible to reach an agreement with a prime minister whose days are numbered." Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef made a supporting phone call to Olmert on Tuesday, telling the prime minister not to "fear or be terrified, for I am with you," in reference to the release of the Winograd report on Wednesday. Earlier this week, Shas' Council of Torah Sages said it would quit the government if talks with the Palestinian Authority began on the issue of Jerusalem. (11,06)