Tens of thousands gathered Saturday night in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv to support a call for a state investigation into the war.

Speakers at the protest included former education minister Yossi Sarid (Meretz) and former defense minister Moshe Arens (Likud).

Protest leader and chairman of the Movement for Quality Government in Israel Attorney Eliad Shraga said at the rally "we have gathered here in all colors of the political spectrum, from all socio-economic levels, and holding a wide range of beliefs, in order to demand the formation of an independent commission of inquiry, a professional, objective and unbiased commission."

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"The corruption that brought about the collapse of departments within the government during peace-time, is the same corruption that brought about the complete paralysis of the government during the war," he said.

Moshe Arens added "never have there been such confusing and contradictory orders issued in the handling of a war."

Yossi Sarid called on Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Dan Halutz to resign.

"If you don't go home on your own initiative, Israeli democracy will send you home," Sarid said.

The demonstration also included video footage from the war, and several musical performances.

Olmert delays cabinet approval for panel

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will not immediately seek cabinet approval for a new composition of the panel he appointed to examine the conduct of the war in Lebanon.

The panel, headed by former Mossad chief Nahum Admoni, had been expected to be submitted for approval on Sunday.

Sources in Jerusalem have suggested three causes for the delay in submitting the new panel for approval. The first is a decision by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz on Tuesday to disqualify two panel candidates due to possible conflicts of interest.

Olmert has appointed two additional candidates to replace Yedidya Ya'ari and David Ivry, but the investigation into a possible conflict of interests on the part of the new nominees has not yet been completed.

The second reason is the ongoing dispute between members of the Admoni panel and the Prime Minister's Office over the panel's range of authority. Admoni wants the panel to be able to grant immunity to individuals who would testify before it, so that their testimony would not be admissible in court. This kind of power can only be awarded by the Knesset and not the prime minister.

The third factor is the collapse of the committee appointed by Defense Minister Amir Peretz, to be headed by former IDF chief of staff Amnon Lipkin Shahak, that was intended to look into the functioning of the defense establishment during the month-long war. To date, a replacement commission has not yet been appointed, and Olmert is still deliberating on its composition.

As a result of the delay, the inquiry into the actions of local and regional officials during the war, to be carried out by the State Comptroller's Office, will also be postponed. Olmert hopes to bring all the panels before the cabinet for simultaneous approval.

On Sunday, Supreme Court justices will discuss the petition submitted by Omets, a non-profit watchdog organization, demanding the formation of a state commission of inquiry into war failures.

The State Prosecution issued an official response, saying that Omets's petition was submitted prematurely. Once the cabinet officially approves some form of inquiry, if it is not in accordance with Omets's demands, they will have to re-submit the current petition in order for their demands to be considered.