Olmert Rejects Full War Probe
Ryan R. Jones - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Tuesday declared that he would not allow the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into his government's handling of the recent Lebanon war, despite mounting public pressure to do so. Speaking at the opening of a new regional branch office for his Kadima Party in the northern town of Tiberias, Olmert emphatically stated, "A State commission of inquiry would be a mistake for the State of Israel. I won't let that happen." Earlier in the day, the Knesset's powerful Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee voted 8-3 to publicly recommend a full state investigation into the performance of both the political and military leaderships during the 34-day conflict with Hezbollah. While the committee's decision will carry much weight with Cabinet ministers, it does not have the authority to order such a probe. In place of a state commission of inquiry headed by a current or former High Court judge, Olmert has established three smaller internal investigations whose panels were selected by himself and Defense Minister Amir Peretz. Unlike a full state commission, Olmert's probes will not have the power to dismiss public officials found guilty of negligence or wrongdoing. The Cabinet is scheduled to vote on the prime minister's decision on Sunday.
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