One year ago this week, the cabinet experienced one of the lowest points in its history: The nine-hour meeting at the end of which the ministers voted, against their better judgment and the original intent of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, in favor of the Israel Defense Forces' recommendation to initiate an extensive ground operation "to the Litani River" and end the Second Lebanon War.

Two days later, with the United Nations Security Council poised to ratify a cease-fire agreement, Olmert and his defense minister, Amir Peretz, gave the IDF the go-ahead for that last, desperate and unnecessary action. The 33 casualties of those last two days eventually led to Peretz's resignation and before him, of chief of staff Dan Halutz.

Perhaps this backdrop can explain the frequent meetings of the "special ministerial committee for the northern front" over the past six weeks - a total of six, the last of which was on Wednesday.