Olmert dismisses talk of political comeback, says he’s still fighting legal battle

Amid media speculation as to whether Ehud Olmert will attempt to stage a political comeback, the former prime minister denied that he had any such plans for now.

“I want to calm you, I have no such plans,” Olmert told a security conference in Tel Aviv Thursday afternoon. “I have no intention of entering the political arena.”

He said people were “dragging my name” into all kinds of speculative places, unfoundedly. He noted that while he remains a Kadima party member, “I am not active in Kadima.” He said he is still spending his time fighting a legal battle “not of my choosing,” that has been continuing for several years.

Olmert was cleared on two of three criminal charges on Tuesday, raising speculation that he may try to return to political life. However, he is still on trial in a separate graft case involving the Holyland real estate project in Jerusalem.

Earlier Thursday, Olmert’s spokesperson, Yaakov Galanti, told Israel Radio his boss would not consider a comeback until all his legal issues were resolved.

Haaretz reported Thursday that Olmert had told close associates he would look to return to the Knesset and lead a centrist bloc. He also said he would invite nascent politician Yair Lapid to join Kadima, which he helped found and led from 2006 to 2008.

Lapid denied that he and his newly formed Yesh Atid party had any intention of joining Olmert.