Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday announced that he resigns from the premiership as he promised.

Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (R) and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni attend the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem September 21, 2008. Olmert announced his resignation at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, but the scandal-hit leader could remain in office for weeks or months until a new government is formed. Olmert was replaced by Livni as leader of the ruling Kadima party in an internal election on Wednesday.

“It’s not an easy decision,” local news service Ynet quoted him as telling a cabinet meeting on Sunday morning. “But I believe I am doing the right thing, as I promised the people of Israel.”

The two most likely dates for the outgoing prime minister to submit his resignation letter to President Shimon Peres, local daily The Jerusalem Post reported, were Sunday, before Peres leaves on Monday for the UN General Assembly in New York, or Oct. 2, after Peres’ return and the following Jewish New Year’s Day holiday.

Yet another Israeli source said that Olmert, who has repeatedly promised to resign from the national leadership upon the election of his successor as chair of the ruling Kadima party, plans to formally submit his resignation to the president between noon and 14 p.m. Sunday.

The Kadima party held its first-ever primary on Wednesday, which saw Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni win with a slim margin over her main rival Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz and become the third and first woman leader of the three-year-old centrist party.

Following his resignation, Olmert would become caretaker prime minister and remain in power until the formation of a new government, a task Peres would most likely assign to Livni. The new chair has already started the cabinet-making efforts.

“I hope that Tzipi Livni forms a government as quickly as possible,” said Olmert. “I will help her and stand by her during the process.”

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet