Galei Zahal (IDF army) radio reported this morning that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has announced the establishment of three investigatory bodies into the recent war in Lebanon, amid a growing clamor of public protest over the government’s handling of the conflict. Olmert chose a meeting with mayors from northern Israel in Haifa to make the announcement.
The political management of the conflict will be examined by a committee headed by former Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations (Mossad) chief Nahum Admoni. Its members are former Israel Navy commander Maj. Gen. (Res) Yedidya Ya’ari and Professors Ruth Gavison and Yehezkel Dror. A further special committee will examine the functioning of the military while State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss will be asked by the government to review the functioning of home front services and facilities.
Olmert reiterated in his speech that he he shouldered the responsibility for the war and its consequences. “Hizbullah’s goal was to prove its spider’s web theory,” he said. “It aimed to terrorize us with the aim of causing a state of panic that would paralyze the IDF. It hoped that our home front would not withstand its attacks and was surprised when the home front stood firm.
”Disagreements exist over the extent of this campaign’s success and some people have been quick to draw conclusions. I ask for patience. One thing is certain: They now realize in both Beirut and other capitals across the Middle East that we will not tolerate any attacks on our sovereignty and our civilians. The world now understands this. You no doubt remember Nasrallah’s first arrogant speech on television in which he mocked us. Yesterday he expressed his contrition and said that he would not have ordered the kidnapping our soldiers if he had known it would lead to such a war.”
Lindestrauss: We’re investigating
After Olmert’s speech, State Comptroller and Ombudsman Micha Lindenstrauss said there was no need for a new inquiry into the events of the Lebanon war as sought by the prime minister because such an inquiry was already underway. He said the State Comptroller’s Office began the inquiry two weeks ago.
The State Comptroller’s Office has begun gathering testimony, documents and protocols of the decision-making process at both the military and political levels in the period preceding the war and during the campaign.
MK Eitam: A committee of evasion and whitewash
Both the left and the right are responding to Olmert’s decision not to appoint a state commission of inquiry. On the right, MK Effie Eitam (National Union-National Religious Party) said the government was establishing a “committee of evasion and whitewash,” whose goal was to put all the blame on the IDF.
MK Arie Eldad (National Union-National Religious Party) said, “100 former General Security Services (GSS) officers won’t help Olmert evade the legal inquiry committee, which will hold him accountable for the failure.” MK Zevulon Orlev (National Union-National Religious Party) said the government did not let the IDF win, and was now trying to “cover its ass”.
The opponents were joined by the organizer of the IDF reservists’ protest movement, Roni Zweigenboim, who said Olmert was whitewashing the failures of the war on both the front line and on the home front. “Olmert is presenting the public with a government commission of inquiry that cannot investigate the failures, and will serve as a fig leaf for those failures.”
From the left, MK Haim Oron (Meretz) said, “Although in his speech, Olmert presented a flatteringly balanced committee for his government, it will not answer the deep crisis the country has found itself in.”
Ivri apppointed to Admoni committee
It was announced this afternoon that the fifth member of the Admoni inquiry committee will be Maj.-Gen. (res.) David Ivri. Ivri was the Israel Air Force commander during the 1982 Lebanon War. He later served as IDF deputy chief of staff, Ministry of Defense director general, head of the National Security Council, and Ambassador to the US.
Ivri commanded the IDF raid that destroyed Iraq’s Osirak nuclear plant in 1981, and was one of the fathers of Israel’s Lavie jet fighter program by Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. (IAI). He is considered a strict general, who is not satisfied with learning professional lessons, but with taking personal responsibility. As director general of the Ministry of Defense, he did not hesitate disclosing forbidden incidents in the IDF, even when they involved clashes with IDF and IAF commanders.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on August 29, 2006
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2006