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　　Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert presented his resignation letter to President Shimon Peres at the president's official residence in Jerusalem Sunday. Olmert faces corruption¹ allegations and is likely to be replaced by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who was elected the ruling party's new leader last Wednesday.
以色列总理奥尔默特告诉他的内阁，他将兑现七月做出的承诺，辞职下台。奥尔默特面临腐败指控，他的总理职位将由外长利夫尼取代。利夫尼上星期三被选为新的执政党领导人。
Ehud Olmert has been mired² in a corruption scandal that brought him to promise last July that he would step down as soon as his party picked a new leader.
奥尔默特身陷腐败丑闻的泥淖，不得不在七月做出承诺，一旦执政党选出新的领导人他就会下台。
That happened last Wednesday, when moderate Tzipi Livni won a narrow victory in the Kadima party primaries.
上星期三，温和派的利夫尼以些微的差距赢得了前进党的初选。
Olmert said he was informing his cabinet about his decision to step down from his post as Prime Minister of Israel.
奥尔默特说，他已经通知内阁，决定辞去以色列总理的职务。
The outgoing Israeli leader said resigning was not an easy decision, but said it is the worthy³, diplomatic, and responsible thing to do.
这位即将下台的以色列领导人说，辞职不是件容易的决定，但他表示，这样做值得、谨慎、负责任。
Aides said his resignation would become formal late Sunday.
助手们说，他的辞职将在星期天晚间正式宣布。
Olmert said he would stand by Livni.
奥尔默特说他会支持利夫尼。
She has just a few weeks to form a coalition⁴ government or Israel will be forced to hold early general elections - a year and a half ahead of schedule.
利夫尼只有几个星期的时间来组成联合政府，否则以色列将被迫提前一年半举行大选。
Olmert's departure is seen by many here as an opportunity to move ahead with U.S.-mediated negotiations⁵ with the Palestinians, which have been stalled over longstanding issues. The corruption scandal was viewed by party members as a distraction⁶ that took attention away from the peace process, and other pressing issues.
耶路撒冷的很多人认为，奥尔默特的去职，被视为是推动美国斡旋的以色列和巴勒斯坦的谈判机会。以色列和巴勒斯坦的谈判因长期存在的问题而陷入僵局。前进党成员认为，奥尔默特的腐败丑闻分散了对和平进程和其它紧迫问题的注意。
Olmert plans to stay on as caretaker of the negotiations while Livni works to set up a governing coalition.
在利夫尼设法组成联合政府的同时，奥尔默特将留下来看守联合政府的谈判。
Kadima is anxious to avoid early elections, which could see it lose to right-wing parties supported by those in Israel who believe the centrists are giving too many concessions⁷ to the Palestinians. Right-wing sentiments have been fueled in recent months by security concerns including Iran's nuclear ambitions and the Islamist group Hamas' continued control of the Gaza strip.