MK Arye Eldad (NU-NRP) on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to step down and prepare himself for life behind bars.

"A man who is suspected of taking bribes shouldn't lead Israel, because we can't be sure of his motives. A leader must have clean hands; someone whose judgment is in doubt can't make decisions on behalf of the citizens of Israel," Eldad said.

He spoke to a special recess Knesset session called at the request of opposition parties to discuss the legitimacy of Olmert and his government continuing in power.

Only 16 legislators were present, even though it had required the signatures of at least 25 to call the session. Attending were Israel Beiteinu's 11 lawmakers; Likud MKs Binyamin Netanyahu, Gideon Sa'ar and Reuven Rivlin; Immigrant Absorption Minister Eli Aflalo (Kadima) and Religious Services Minister Yitzhak Cohen (Shas). Neither Aflalo nor Cohen spoke on behalf of the government.

Eldad advised Olmert to quit and to focus on his trial and prepare the things he might need behind bars.

"I can understand bribery, money-laundering and fraud, but why breach of trust? Breach of trust can be attributed to someone who once was loyal to something. Olmert has never been loyal to anything but to Olmert," Eldad said.

MK David Rotem (Israel Beiteinu) said that although the government had a legal right to remain in office and to make decisions, it lacked moral legitimacy.

"The attorney-general was right in saying that the government has the legal authorization to continue and to act, but he also said that a government in such condition should be careful in exercising its authority," Rotem said.

He added that the members of this government were so busy with next Wednesday's Kadima primary that they did not have time to handle the burning issues on the agenda such as the latest attempts by criminals to kill competing gangsters that have exacted a heavy toll on innocent bystanders in Bat Yam and Netanya.

"We have all seen what the public security minister [Avraham Dichter of Kadima] thinks of the justice minister [Daniel Friedmann]," Rotem said. Friedmann was misquoted earlier this week as saying that the police had set out to force the prime minister from his position.

"Dichter has no time to ensure the security of Israeli citizens. He is busy with the primary, and we've all seen what happened on Monday in Netanya and before that in Bat Yam," Rotem said.