Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this afternoon, held consultations on the issue of the upcoming Palestinian Authority (PA) elections.  Justice and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra, Minister Tzahi Hanegbi, IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz, IDF Deputy Chief-of-Staff Maj.-Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky, ISA Director Yuval Diskin, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Special Adviser Dov Weisglass, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj.-Gen. Yosef Mishlav, National Security Council Chairman Giora Eiland and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Acting Prime Minister Olmert was presented with various possible scenarios regarding the PA elections and their significance..  He appointed a team composed of IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Halutz, ISA Director Diskin, Foreign Ministry Director-General Ron Prosor, Prime Minister Sharon's Military Secretary Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni and Prime Minister Sharon's Special Adviser Weisglass.

Acting Prime Minister Olmert instructed the team to monitor developments in the PA, both during and after the elections, and formulate recommendations to the political leadership.  The recommendations will be submitted to Defense Minister Mofaz for approval and will then be discussed by a ministerial committee chaired by the Acting Prime Minister.

Acting Prime Minister Olmert also issued separate instructions to National Security Council Chairman Eiland to prepare a list of recommendations regarding possible scenarios for the day after the elections.