Last update - 00:00 08/04/2007
State attempts stalling petition to release key Winograd testimonies
By Nir Hasson, Haaretz Correspondent
The State Attorney's office on Sunday requested the High Court of Justice to stall a petition calling for the release of key testimonies given before the Winograd Committee on the Second Lebanon War.
The petition, submitted by Meretz MK Zehava Gal-On, calls on the High Court to oblige the committee to release ahead of its interim report the protocols of the testimonies by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz, and former Israel Defense Forces chief Dan Halutz.
The committee's interim report is due in the second half of April.
MK Gal-On slammed the move by the State Attorney's office, saying, "This is an additional attempt at foot dragging and to avoid implementing a High Court ruling. It is a pity that the State Attorney's office, vested with the rule of law, continues with a conduct that borders on contempt of the court."
Early last week, the High Court requested the state to elaborate on the reasons for its refusal to release the protocols, ordering the State Attorney's office to respond by this coming Tuesday, April 10. The state, however, on Sunday submitted a request for a seven-day postponement until April 17.
Should the court be satisfied with the state's response, Gal-On's petition would become pointless, because by then the Winograd Committee's interim report would be released. The Meretz parliamentarian has argued in her petition that it would be more appropriate to release the testimonies ahead of the interim report, to allow the public better judgment of the committee's work.
Gal-On's attorney is preparing a response to the High Court that will object forcefully to the state's request.