Palestinian reax to resignation of Israeli prime minister

(21 Sep 2008) Ramallah, West Bank 1. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the Political Committee of the Fatah party, walking towards reporters 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the Political Committee of the Fatah party: "This is an Israeli issue. This is not the first time that happens in the Israeli political scene. Therefore, a new prime minister will be sworn in, whether it is Mrs. Livni, a new form of government after she forms her coalition, or new elections with a new prime minister to come. What is more important for us, is the commitment of any Israeli prime minister to the peace process." 3. Abdullah talking to reporter Gaza City, Gaza Strip 4. Set up shot of Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman 5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman: "It became clear that the Zionist project has begun to shrink and the Palestinian resistance project has expanded. It is clear that time, as Olmert (interim Israeli Prime Minister Ehud) said, is not on the side of the Zionist occupation and maybe the Palestinians - who have their rights - will become the most important issue in the minds of the Arab and Islamic world, after the collapse of the Zionist project." 6. End shot of Barhoum (ends) STORYLINE: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, crippled by a series of corruption investigations, formally resigned on Sunday, clearing the way for his foreign minister Tzipi Livni to make her bid to become Israel's next leader. Olmert submitted an official letter of resignation to President Shimon Peres on Sunday evening, freeing the president to formally tap Livni to try to put together a new government. Palestinian officials on Sunday gave their reaction to Olmert's resignation. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the Political Committee of the Fatah party, said it was an Israeli issue, but hoped the peace process will stay on track. "This is not the first time that happens in the Israeli political scene. Therefore, a new prime minister will be sworn in, whether it is Mrs. Livni, a new form of government after she forms her coalition, or a new elections with a new prime minister to come. What is more is more important for us, is the commitment of any Israeli Prime Minister to the peace process", said Mr. Abdullah. Hamas' spokesman Fawzi Barhoum had harsher words. "It became clear that the Zionist project has begun to shrink and the Palestinian resistance project has expanded. It is clear that time, as Olmert (interim Israeli Prime Minister Ehud) said, is not on the side of the Zionist occupation and maybe the Palestinians - who have their rights - will become the most important issue in the minds of the Arab and Islamic world, after the collapse of the Zionist project," he told AP Television News. Olmert told his Cabinet on Sunday morning that he would resign and followed that with a visit to the official Jerusalem residence of President Shimon Peres - both formalities in a process that began in late July, when Olmert caved under the pressure of multiple corruption probes and announced he would step down after the Kadima primary election. Livni meanwhile wasted no time on working to put together a new government, meeting with potential coalition partners even as Olmert handed in his resignation. Her ability to move fast in her first task could have far-reaching effects on peace talks with the Palestinians. At stake is political stability in Israel as the clock winds down on a January target date for a peace accord with the Palestinians, set by Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at a U.S.-sponsored peace conference last November. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...