Olmert: I won’t announce decision on return to politics this week

Former prime minister Ehud Olmert told journalists on Monday that, contrary to rumors circulating in the press, he will not announce his intention to reenter politics this week.

“Not one deadline that was published about when I will declare my intention to run in the elections is correct,” Olmert said.

Olmert’s return to politics remained questionable as of Sunday, but rumors reported by Israel Radio suggested he was expected to announce whether or not to run in the upcoming elections in the coming days. The report speculated that he was leaning toward staying out the political arena.

Olmert has been weighing a return to politics, but his ability to run for office was cast in doubt last week when the State Attorney’s Office informed Olmert’s lawyers that it will appeal his acquittal in at least one, and possibly both, of the two substantive corruption cases in which he was acquitted by the Jerusalem District Court in July.

Olmert has indicated that, should he return to the political stage, he would do so with former Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni. Neither ex-politician has thrown their hat into the ring for the January 22, 2013, parliamentary elections.