 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday rejected a state inquiry into the government's handling of the war against Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, despite widespread calls for a broad, independent investigation.
Instead, he authorized a less-powerful probe to be headed by a former head of the Mossad spy agency. A state inquiry would have the authority to dismiss top officials. In a speech in the northern city of Haifa, Olmert said the government doesn't have the "luxury" to spend long periods of time investigating the past.
| He'll have lots of time in his retirement. In a few months. |
Olmert also said he accepted full responsibility for the government's decision to go to war. "The decision ... was entirely mine," he said in a speech in the northern city of Haifa, where he addressed leaders of northern communities damaged by Hezbollah rocket fire.
| Nobody's bitching about the decision to go to war. They're bitching about screwing it up. |
The government has been heavily criticized for its handling of the 34- day war, and the public has been clamoring for an investigation. Olmert also defended his decision to authorize a last-minute ground offensive in Lebanon, despite the heavy casualties suffered by Israeli forces.
| It should have been a first-minute ground offensive. |
Thirty-three soldiers were killed in the offensive, launched even as a cease-fire agreement was taking place. Speaking in the northern city of Haifa, Olmert said the offensive helped push the cease-fire through the United Nations. |