Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert arrives for a seminar at Israel's Democracy Institute in Jerusalem on Thursday.
Olmert wants to try again
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert wants to appear again before the Lebanon war commission, after testimony released by the body showed he blamed the army for shortcomings but acknowledged he ignored warnings that Israeli forces were unprepared for the conflict last summer.
Olmert’s office said late Thursday that he wants to counter a statement to the commission from his foreign minister and political rival, Tzipi Livni, that she recommended a diplomatic solution instead of a large-scale military operation the day after Hezbollah guerrillas captured two soldiers and killed three in a cross-border raid. Olmert said there was no such recommendation.
Olmert’s appearance before the panel failed to stave off its severe censure of his wartime performance. Last week’s publication of the commission’s first report triggered a wave of calls for his resignation.
