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Olmert braces for Lebanon probe Olmert braces for Lebanon probe
(about 2 hours later)
Israel's prime minister and defence minister are expected to face harsh criticism from a committee of inquiry examining the Lebanon war in 2006.Israel's prime minister and defence minister are expected to face harsh criticism from a committee of inquiry examining the Lebanon war in 2006.
PM Ehud Olmert is expected to face charges of haste in going to war, according to leaks from an interim report to be presented on Monday. PM Ehud Olmert is expected to face charges of haste in going to war, according to leaks from an interim report to be presented later on Monday.
He will also be criticised for weakness in challenging the military's lead.He will also be criticised for weakness in challenging the military's lead.
Defence Minister Amir Peretz will be censured for inexperience and short-sightedness. His defence minister, Amir Peretz, is expected to be censured for being inexperienced and short-sighted.
And it is thought that the former chief of staff, Dan Halutz, will be blamed for consistently pursuing the wrong tactics and strategy. Retired judge Eliahu Winograd is due to present his findings at a news conference at 1700 (1400 GMT).
Gen Halutz has already resigned. The BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says, while Mr Olmert's coalition may survive the damning report within parliament, he is dealing with unprecedented levels of unpopularity among the Israeli public.
More than 1,000 Lebanese and more than 100 Israelis died during the war. Former chief of staff Dan Halutz, who has already resigned, will be blamed for consistently pursuing the wrong tactics and strategy, it is thought.
Ratings blow Cabinet backing
The Israeli government set up the committee of inquiry to still the wave of disquiet following the war in Lebanon last summer. Israel launched the war on Lebanon after Hezbollah militants captured two Israeli troops in a deadly cross-border raid. They remain in captivity.
The war lasted for some 34 days About 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers, were killed in the conflict.
It is due to present the interim report, while the full document is expected later this year. The prime minister respects the committee and he will respect the recommendations Olmert spokeswoman Miri Eisin class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/5257128.stm">Lebanon crisis facts The committee of inquiry aims to still the wave of disquiet following the outcome of the war, widely perceived to have been a failure in Israel.
It is likely that Mr Peretz's time as defence minister will also soon be over. Monday's findings concern the period between Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000 up to 17 July 2006, five days after Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were snatched.
In contrast, Mr Olmert's aides are preparing his defence. The full findings of the five-member Winograd committee are expected to be published later in the year.
They are saying that at the time the entire cabinet backed the move to war, and that the prime minister is willing to implement all the committee's recommendations. Mr Olmert's aides have been preparing his defence, arguing that the entire cabinet backed the move to war, and saying he is willing to implement all the committee's recommendations.
Mr Olmert's coalition may survive within parliament. "The prime minister appointed the committee. He respects the committee and he will respect the recommendations of the committee," his spokeswoman Miri Eisin said.
In the country, though, Mr Olmert is already dealing with unprecedented levels of unpopularity. Observers say the fate of Mr Olmert's government will be decided by the public reaction to the findings.
And public opinion could yet swing further against him. A rally to call for his resignation is planned for Thursday in Tel Aviv.