Israeli Government Panel to Probe War

The Israeli Cabinet on Sunday approved a committee to investigate the government’s handling of the recent war in Lebanon but rejected protesters’ calls for an independent inquiry.

Amid broad dissatisfaction in Israel over the outcome of the conflict with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, the question of whether to conduct an investigation, and of what kind, had become a political battle.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert favored a government inquiry; others, including Defense Minister Amir Peretz, advocated an independent commission that was seen as more likely to conduct a rigorous investigation.

Peretz, leader of the left-leaning Labor Party, in the end joined Olmert in a 20-to-2 Cabinet vote to approve a five-member panel named by the prime minister. Peretz said he was satisfied that the panel would have sufficient authority.

The inquiry will be headed by a retired judge, Eliyahu Winograd, and will examine the performance of Israeli political leaders and the military during the 34-day conflict. Israelis were left bitter over a range of issues, including the wisdom of a costly last-minute ground offensive and the military’s inability to crush Hezbollah forces before a United Nations cease-fire took effect Aug. 14.

Olmert rejected demands for an independent commission, which by law would enjoy wide authority in deciding the scope of its inquiry, summoning officials for questioning and issuing recommendations. Such panels have looked into political controversies, and their findings have led to the firing of top public officials.

Olmert said such an investigation would take too long. Critics charged that he sought a whitewash.

“I sincerely hope that the committee will conclude its work as soon as possible and assist the state of Israel in better preparing for future challenges,” Olmert said at the start of the weekly Cabinet session.

He said the panel would be granted authority equal to that of an independent commission.

Protesters have called for the resignations of Olmert, Peretz and Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, the army chief of staff. On Sunday, demonstrators carried placards and mocked the trio outside the prime minister’s office.

Reserve soldiers who served in Lebanon and other critics have said the campaign was plagued by changing battle plans, poor preparation and shortages of combat gear, food and drinking water. Peretz has acknowledged failures. The inquiry’s outcome could quell public anger toward Israel’s leaders or fuel it.

Israel has slowly withdrawn its troops from south Lebanon, after an incursion triggered July 12 when Hezbollah militants captured two Israeli soldiers, who are still unaccounted for. Officials said they would pull out the rest of their forces once the international force and Lebanese army were in place, as called for under the cease-fire.

“When they’re ready to come in, we’ll be ready to leave,” Mark Regev, spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, said Sunday.

Public support for Olmert and Peretz soared at the outset of the war but tumbled as it went on. Weakened politically, Olmert has shelved his central plan: drawing permanent national borders, with or without negotiations with Palestinian leaders, in a way that would require tens of thousands of Jewish settlers to withdraw from the West Bank.

In recent days, Olmert has said he was willing to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who has repeatedly called for new talks.

Abbas was en route Sunday to a U.N. General Assembly session to seek backing for new peace moves and for his Fatah group’s plans to form a unity government with the ruling Hamas movement. The two parties said last week they would join hands in hopes of breaking an international aid embargo against Hamas that has dried up the Palestinian treasury.

Palestinian officials said Abbas planned to meet with President Bush on the sidelines of the session amid signs of discord in efforts by Fatah and Hamas to forge a government.

Hamas leaders Sunday denied reports by Fatah officials that Abbas had suspended coalition talks because Hamas refused to meet the West’s conditions for resuming aid: recognizing Israel, pledging an end to the use of violence and accepting agreements between Israel and the Palestinians.

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said negotiations over the proposed government would resume after Abbas returned.

Abbas wants Palestinian militants, including Hamas fighters, to release Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit before Fatah joins in a unity government. Shalit was captured June 25 in southern Israel and taken to the Gaza Strip, which led to the ongoing Israeli military incursion into the seaside territory.

Reports in several Arabic newspapers have said agreement was near on a prisoner swap with Israel. Palestinian officials did not comment, though unnamed Israeli officials were quoted in local media as saying that no deal was imminent.

*

ken.ellingwood@latimes.com