Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., January 28, 2008 Shvat 21, 5768 | | Israel Time: 14:36 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 11:57 23/01/2008
Bereaved parents call on PM to resign in 'alternative Winograd report'
By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Second Lebanon War, Israel 

An 'alternative Winograd report' released Wednesday, written by the bereaved families of Israel Defense Soldiers who were killed in the Second Lebanon War, called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign due to his failure in handling the war.

"The Prime Minister cannot remain at his post even one day longer due to his great failure. He should have resigned immediately after the last soldier had left Lebanese soil."

The report, which will be submitted to the Knesset Wednesday, investigates three main issues: The choice to go to war, the war itself and the controversial final hours of fighting in which 34 IDF soldiers died. The report examines both the military as well as the government however personal recommendations are given only to the political leaders.
Advertisement
These harsh recommendations focus mainly on Olmert. In the report, the bereaved parents wrote that "Olmert is directly responsible for the death of our children" and that "the blood of our fallen sons is yelling at you from the earth".

Regarding the last 60 hours of war, the report states that the operation was "in order to create the image of victory" but "34 families lost their loved ones in those 60 hours. They were soldiers who died for nothing only so that the Israeli cabinet ministers could save themselves."

Grass-roots groups gear up to send PM home after Winograd war report

Combat soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces who served in the Second Lebanon War are among the groups planning to renew their fight for the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert after the final Winograd Report comes out on January 30.

Tuesday night, about 10 reservists in their 30s met at the home of Lior Dinamez in Ramat Gan to map out the outlines of their fight. Almost anything goes, they decided. Although most were apolitical, they said they would join the struggle of politicians from across the spectrum. They would pressure Ehud Barak to leave the government immediately after the report is released and they would hold three major protest events in which they would sound their message: Olmert go home.

Dinamez came to the protest tent that his friend Roni Zweigenbaum set up in the Rose Garden in Jerusalem near the Knesset a few days after he returned from the battles in the western sector in Lebanon. He remained for more than a month. "After the war, I stood in Rabin Square, which was full of people and everyone was calling for Olmert to resign and he didn't. Today the political system is more ready for such a move," Dinamez said.

Dinamez says that if Barak does not make a political move, "We will lead a large public protest." Dinamez says he believes the large-scale protest in the first days after the war, which reached its height in a rally at Rabin Square, contributed to the resignation of the former chief of staff, Dan Halutz.

Dinamez says his group is unconnected with a coalition of reservist protesters calling themselves Habayta ("Go Home"), who are led by Major (res.) Tomer Buhadana and Major (res.) Yakir Segev. However their goals are the same, Dinamez says - sending Olmert home.

Habayta sent a sharply worded letter to Olmert Monday calling on him to resign, signed by 50 reserve company commanders.

"We already brought 150,000 people to Rabin Square and the people have spoken. Now the game that counts is the political one, and if we want to reach the goal of replacing the prime minister, we have to jump into that pool," a Habayta activist said.

The groups also plans a vigil to take place near Barak's apartment house, in North Tel Aviv.

Meanwhile, a group of bereaved parents is to submit their report this morning on the failures of the war to the Knesset State Control Committee. Moshe Muskal, whose son Raphanael was killed in the battle at Maroun e-Ras, said Tuesday that unlike the anticipated Winograd Report, the bereaved parents' report will call on individuals cited to take responsibility. "Our actions will also be directed against those ministers who kept silent in meetings during the war," Muskal said.


Related articles:
  • Barak meets with bereaved families, makes no promises on Winograd
  • Kadima Day
  • The main findings of the Winograd partial report on the Second Lebanon War
  • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Officer convicted
    A military court convicts an IDF officer who led troops in a West Bank rampage.
    A different Anne Frank
    A Dutch Jewish condemns the distribution of a postcard of Anne Frank wearing kaffiyeh.
      1.   FAT CHANCE OLMERT WILL GO!!! 10:25  |  Robert 23/01/08
      2.   Another Rally!!!! OLMERT GO HOME!! 11:15  |  Dror 23/01/08
      3.   Why did you pull the Marcus article?? 14:25  |  Dror 23/01/08
      4.   This lowlife of a PM "refused"... 18:28  |  bat yam 23/01/08
      5.   OLMERT the MAGNIFICENT MANIPULATOR 14:28  |  Dagma 28/01/08
     Today Online
    Bradley Burston: What if the Hillary haters were right all along?
    Responses: 32
    Source: Jerusalem issue to be left for last in peace talks
    Responses: 49
    IAF wounds 4 Hamas men in strike on armored car in Gaza
    Responses: 27
    Officials: Israel won't let Gaza breach threaten security
    Responses: 58
    Haaretz TV: Lavish Israeli Bat Mitzvahs - when excess is best
    Responses: 12
    Rosner's Domain
    Two days before the Florida primary, Rudy seeks solace in football
    The best Jewish date (What To Read)
    McCain using support for Israel to court Jews - and Christians
    Poll: How important is Israel in the 2008 election?


    More Headlines
    14:31 Hamas, Egypt cooperate in resealing Gaza border
    14:24 At war's end, Bolton said Rice surrendered to Arab demands
    14:02 Source: Jerusalem will be the final topic on peace talk agenda
    12:10 Reservists freeze campaign against PM ahead of war report
    11:33 Israel said planning to apologize to ex-Beatles for '65 concert ban
    14:35 Chief Rabbi: Move poor Gazans to a Palestinian state in Sinai
    14:29 Germany's Green Party uses cat resembling Hitler to slam far-rightists
    14:22 High court rejects Omri Sharon's appeal, sends him off to prison
    12:23 Zionism in the Holocaust: Lodz Ghetto Jew dreams of statehood
    13:53 Jerusalem braces for snow as cold spell claims 6th victim
    14:16 Peres: I understand Arab sentiment on closing of October riots case
    11:15 Iran says it is close to resuming ties with Egypt cut in 1979
    14:07 Report: Barak met secretly with Pakistan's Musharraf last week
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Dead Sea Salt
    Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off!
    FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film
    The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer
    Inbal Jerusalem Hotel
    Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    SUPER-TUESDAY U.S. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
    U.S. citizen in Israel vote Democrats-Abroad Global Primary online, in-person.
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved