Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asked parliament on Sunday to delay the release of a key report expected to criticise inadequate protection for Israeli civilians under rocket fire during last yearÂ’s war in Lebanon. "Oh, yeah? How much of a delay do you need?"
"Sixty years oughta do it."
Olmert’s approval ratings have plummeted since the inconclusive month-long war that was widely criticised for Israel’s failure to crush Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. Under a hail of public criticism, Olmert has named a panel of judges to investigate these complaints about the military. State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss has launched a separate probe into complaints the Israeli home front was unprepared to face the onslaught of rockets fired by Hezbollah during the fighting. Parliament has scheduled a committee hearing to air these findings on Tuesday. Amid reports the government would face criticism for inadequate bomb shelters and warning systems to civilians, Olmert accused Lindenstrauss of “sowing panic” among Israelis, in a letter whose contents were published by his office.
In the letter to the parliament speaker’s bureau, Olmert also accused the comptroller’s office of leaking “false reports” ahead of the report and of failing to solicit a government response before publishing its findings. “I see no room” for plans to release it at a parliament committee meeting on Tuesday, Olmert wrote. The Israeli military has also asked to see a draft of the report before publication, a military spokesman said. It was unclear whether parliament would agree to the postponement requests.