Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., March 06, 2007 Adar 16, 5767 | | Israel Time: 04:05 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Print Edition
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National  
Arts & Leisure Anglo File Sports Travel Magazine Week's End
Q&A
Business   Underground Jewish World Real Estate Advertising  
Bookmark to del.icio.us
Major General Gershon Yitzhak: Petitioned the High Court over Lindenstrauss' findings. (Tomer Appelbaum/BauBau)
Last update - 22:55 05/03/2007
Comptroller: No findings against individuals in war probe summary
By Aluf Benn, Zvi Zrahiya and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents

The summary of the state comptroller's interim report on the management of the Home Front during the second Lebanon war, which will be presented Tuesday to the Knesset State Control Committee, will not include conclusions regarding individual officials, the State Comptroller's Office said Monday.

Following a meeting with State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, State Control Committee Chairman Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party-National Union) said Monday that "during the committee hearing, there will be no report that includes personal conclusions."

"Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will not be mentioned during the hearing, nor will any specific ministry, nor specific government, but rather the collective responsibility of the governments," Orlev added. "No specific local authority will be mentioned, but rather the [report will refer to] the authorities in the north. Even the [Israel Defense Forces] Home Front Command will not be mentioned, but rather the criticism will be directed at the IDF."

Advertisement

Orlev said that the findings regarding individual officials and specific government agencies will be included in the final version of the report, which will be presented in several months, after those being criticized have a chance to respond.

The High Court of Justice will hear a petition Tuesday morning against a Knesset debate on State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss' probe, which is set to begin at 9 A.M. - two hours after the start of the court hearing.

The petitionors, GOC Home Front Command Major General Yitzhak Gershon, claims that the Knesset debate should not take place until those criticized in the findings have had a chance to respond.

Lindenstrauss and Orlev are both named in the petition, which was submitted by chief military defense attorney Colonel Orna David and Gershon's attorney, Eldad Yaniv.

"An illegal act harms the basic rights of those criticized, the rule of law, public faith in the institution of the state comptroller and his determinations," the petition states.

Gershon and several other senior officers who may be affected by the report argue that they have not been given the right of reply, and that publishing the interim report without providing those under scrutiny with the entire draft report runs contrary to common practice as well as violating the law regulating the state comptroller.

In addition, the petitioners say that Lindenstrauss failed to submit the report's major findings to military censorship to ensure that their publication does not compromise national security.

At the start of Tuesday's committee hearing, Lindenstrauss will read the 6-7 page summary of his interim report, which he will present to Orlev. The report is expected to include harsh criticism of the IDF, government ministries, local authorities and other agencies regarding the level of Home Front preparedness for the war.

On Monday, the state comptroller handed over the full 600-page interim report to the various agencies and officials being criticized.

According to Orlev, it is important to conduct the hearing in order to "receive from the comptroller a report on his activities regarding the probe into the preparedness of the Home Front and its handling during the war in the north."

"During the hearing, there will be a report on the actions that will include general recommendations for correcting the situation, so that it will be possible to begin implementing them immediately and begin to properly prepare the Home Front," he said. "We asked for the report to also include general recommendations that can start to be implemented in order to draw lessons and correct shortcomings immediately."

Orlev criticized the High Court petition, saying "I ask myself if the IDF filed the petition with the defense minister's approval? Is there a minister who is hiding? Are there partisan interests? The comptroller informed me of all the meetings he had with the Home Front Command and on which he will report to the committee. The Knesset State Control Committee can rest assured, the Home Front Command had infinite opportunities to present their version to the probe."

Meretz faction whip Zahava Gal-On said "this is unprecedented audacity on the part of a prime minister who decided in less than an hour to go to war and now needs more than two months to give explanations on the failed preparedness of the Home Front. This is an additional attempt of the prime minister to avoid giving explanations and de-legitimize the institution of the state comptroller."

Kadima MK Amira Dotan, who is a member of the State Control Committee, wrote Orlev a letter asking him to adopt Knesset Legal Adviser Nurit Elstein's opinion that the committee should not hold a meeting Tuesday to deliberate the findings.

Related articles:

  • They forgot about expertise
  • PM slams comptroller, alleging 'falsehoods' and leaks
  • Lindenstrauss and Olmert / He's right, but must also be smart
  • Six months after war, shelters still not ready
  • Politicians slam Olmert ahead of comptroller's report

  • Bookmark to del.icio.us
    Matza Refuge
    Passover will see thousands of Israeli families taking off for trips in hot spots abroad.
    One street, two worlds
    Just a few meters distance can alter real estate prices radically in some Israeli cities.
      1.   PM & Gershon versus Lindenstrauss 05:30  |  Henk 05/03/07
      2.   good to see Olmert on the run ! 09:04  |  redmike 05/03/07
      3.   THE CAT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK 09:12  |  SAM(NEW YORK) 05/03/07
      4.   state comptroller and the media 09:38  |  Michael 05/03/07
      5.   Falsehoods 10:16  |  Frank 05/03/07
      6.   goo goo good 10:26  |  dave 05/03/07
      7.   public disclusure is part democratic TRANSPARENCY!!!!!!! 12:50  |  Ben Uziel 05/03/07
      8.   #6 13:54  |  noel 05/03/07
      9.   The Home Front Commander should think! 14:38  |  sh 05/03/07
      10.   Publish Truth: IDF was trained & prepared to attack Jews 15:03  |  Yacov 05/03/07
      11.   Publish Truth #2: IDF can`t both attack and protect Israel 15:26  |  Yacov 05/03/07
      12.   Olmert you have lost the confidence of the Israeli people 16:49  |  Kipperraes 05/03/07
      13.   Will prudency or rightness decide. 19:07  |  H.H.M 05/03/07
      14.   Maybe there ARE false conclusions in the report 19:43  |  Mea 05/03/07
      15.   #14 - no specific people are mentioned in the report ! 20:15  |  redmike 05/03/07
      16.   Another few months 22:07  |  sh 05/03/07
      17.   Individuals or no individuals, every unit has the right 01:02  |  Uzi 06/03/07
      18.   #2 redmike 02:56  |  KT 06/03/07
      19.   #2 redmike 02:59  |  KT 06/03/07
      20.   Olmer can not change the history. 03:26  |  Dr. Ari Nir 06/03/07
     Today Online
    Abbas: EU is pro-Israel, discriminates against PA
    Responses: 280
    Sheleg: Existential threats have rekindled classic Zionism
    Responses: 79
    Only ending the Arab-Israeli conflict will turn PM into a great leader
    Responses: 83
    Michael Melchior: Arab states slowly coming to terms with Israel
    Responses: 129
    Ben-Eliezer cancels Egypt visit amid row over '67 war charges
    Responses: 101
    Rosner's Domain
    * More Americans have an opinion: They support Israel
    * The White House, like the White Paper
    * Obama supports Israel. Period


    More Headlines
    03:54 Source: IDF to withdraw petition against panel hearing on Lebanon war
    23:33 U.S.: Aid package to PA depends the funds not benefiting Hamas
    03:34 Aides: Peretz has no intention of dropping out of Labor primaries
    03:38 PMO drafts plan to maintain 'fabric of life' in any future war
    00:55 Missing Iranian official may have information on airman Ron Arad
    19:51 Detective charged with doing bidding of Israeli Arab crime family
    23:42 Haniyeh-Abbas meeting on PA unity gov't ends without accord
    02:06 Police and Tax Authority join forces to fight organized crime
    01:25 BBC survey claims Israel has least positive image in the world
    01:42 Plan would deny Foreign Ministry administrators diplomatic posts
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Skin Care Products
    Shop high-class skin care cosmetics with Dead Sea minerals. Coupon code "haaretz" for 10% off.
    A Different Israel Experience
    Unique programs for adults of all ages
    JOIN FREE AT JDATE.COM
    The most popular online Jewish dating community in the world! Explore the possibilities! Click Here!
    CAMP KIMAMA ISRAEL
    Israel's international summer camps!
    Learn Hebrew Online
    Learn Hebrew from the best teachers in Israel live over the Internet
    Home| Print Edition| Diplomacy| Opinion| Arts & Leisure| Sports| Jewish World| Underground| Site rules|
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved