Olmert passes three no confidence tests

JERUSALEM – Embattled Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert passed a parliamentary test with surprising ease Monday, defeating three parliamentary motions of no confidence by wide margins.

Under Israeli law, an absolute majority of 61 of the Knesset’s 120 members is needed to adopt a motion forcing the government to resign. But each of the motions drew only 28 “yes” votes, while the vote against ranged from 60 to 62, with six to nine members abstaining.

Olmert has been under increasing criticism over last summer’s costly, bloody and inconclusive war in Lebanon. Last week an official government commission issued a scathing report on the war, heaping blame on Olmert for failures in his decision-making process.

The report led to a chorus of calls for his resignation and a demonstration by more than 100,000 Israelis in Tel Aviv backing that demand, but Olmert said he was determined to stay on and correct the faults listed by the commission.

Despite the political turmoil, Olmert’s ruling coalition holds a solid majority in parliament and appears safe for now.