New York  - Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said Wednesday that the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will not endanger peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.

Visiting the United Nations, Barak said that Olmert, who has been ensnared by a corruption scandal, made the right decision by not seeking re-election as Kadima party leader, meaning he will leave office in September.

"I think that is the proper and responsible decision made at the right time," said Barak, whose Labour Party is the largest junior partner in Olmert's Kadima-led government.

Barak was in Washington earlier this week to discuss the Mideast peace process with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Rice met Wednesday with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian lead negotiator Ahmed Qureia in an effort to nudge along the peace process.

"I think this is stable," Barak said of negotiations after Olmert leaves office in September.

Livni is the likely candidate to succeed Olmert. (dpa)