Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., December 11, 2006 Kislev 20, 5767 | | Israel Time: 04:28 (EST+6)
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Protesters carry torches during a demonstration Thursday calling on PM Olmert to appoint a state commission of inquiry into the Lebanon war. (AP)
Last update - 07:59 13/10/2006
Over 2,000 protest outside PM's home, call for state war inquiry
By Nir Hasson, Haaretz Correspondent

Roughly 2,500 protestors calling for a state commission to investigate the Lebanon war demonstrated Thursday outside of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's residence in Jerusalem.

The protest was organized by a coalition of organizations calling for the Winograd Commission to be disbanded and a state commission to take its place.

The organizers hope the demonstration will revive the public debate regarding the establishment of a state commission, which would have more far-reaching powers than the government-appointed Winograd Commission.

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"The State of Israel is anxiously awaiting for errors to be addressed, and the first condition for addressing errors is revealing the truth," former Meretz MK Yossi Sarid told the protestors.

"[The Winograd Commission] does not have the authority, does not have the abilities, and does not have the necessary credibility and I have great dought that it was the will and desire to investigate properly," said Sarid. "There is no point to this commission."

Addressing the demonstrators, Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal said, "If there is no truth in this country this is not a country I want to live in."

"We are sending out children to be killed," Moyal continued. "We are sending real children and we want a real commission of inquiry."

The coalition was formed roughly two weeks ago and includes organizations representing reservists and families who lost loved ones in the conflict, as well as the Israeli Students Organization, Young Meretz, and Young Yisrael Beiteinu.

"Olmert has responded to the High Court of Justice, and the nation will respond tomorrow? in a demonstration that crosses party lines," said the organizers Wednesday. "The nation will not accept the cover-up."

The state prosecution Wednesday responded to a High Court of Justice demand that the government explain its decision not to appoint a state commission of inquiry by arguing that the High Court has limited input in this deliberation.

The coalition's activists campaigned throughout the country Wednesday in an attempt to bring as many demonstrators to the protest in Jerusalem.

The activists demonstrated Wednesday in front of the Winograd Commission's offices and the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv. The activists continued to a protest in Kiryat Shemona, where several of them were taken in for questioning on suspicion of disorderly conduct.

"Not a single person failed to respond to us," said Gal Da'i, chairman of the National Organization of Students. "The feeling is that people are despairing and apathetic to the situation."

"You can see houses that have yet to be repaired since the war," he continued. "It creates a very difficult atmosphere."

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  1.   state inquiry-not much chance of that 22:09  |  yahn goodey 12/10/06
  2.   olmert`s end 22:14  |  * TALKBACK OBSERVER* 12/10/06
  3.   olmert`s end 22:14  |  * TALKBACK OBSERVER* 12/10/06
  4.   Lebanon, Leb, Zib, iksaas....who care 22:47  |  Gaza Boy 12/10/06
  5.   Demonsration 23:12  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 12/10/06
  6.   Jewish media spin machine 03:15  |  Zobaida 13/10/06
  7.   Israel is not a piece of luxury. 03:33  |  Akram Zekaria 13/10/06
  8.   Deserved Demonstrations 04:29  |  Yoram 13/10/06
  9.   Miserably small 08:37  |  Yonatan 13/10/06
  10.   Protestors are right! 09:00  |  natalia 13/10/06
  11.   Protestors` Rights. 09:10  |  dagma 13/10/06
  12.   Independent Inquiry 12:18  |  AYA 13/10/06
  13.   Protestors call for State Inquiry 13:23  |  Dagma 13/10/06
  14.   Gotta keep the pressure up!! 15:27  |  dave 13/10/06
  15.   ... 03:44  |  Emily 11/12/06
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