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Israel's military chief resigns Israel's military chief resigns
(about 4 hours later)
The head of Israel's armed forces, Lt Gen Dan Halutz, has resigned amid inquiries into last year's conflict with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.The head of Israel's armed forces, Lt Gen Dan Halutz, has resigned amid inquiries into last year's conflict with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Gen Halutz made the decision because military inquiries into various aspects of the war had been completed, Israel's Army Radio said. Gen Halutz said he wanted to assume his "responsibilities" after a war which has been widely criticised for failing to crush the anti-Israel militia.
But other inquiries are still being conducted into the government's handling of the 34-day conflict. A military inquiry is now over, but the government's handling of the 34-day conflict is still being investigated.
The military was widely criticised for failing to achieve its war aims. The resignation is the latest in a series of setbacks for PM Ehud Olmert.
The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Jerusalem says every aspect of the conflict has been scrutinised and the conclusions have been damning. Hours before Gen Halutz made his announcement, the justice ministry ordered a criminal investigation into Mr Olmert's role in the privatisation of the country's second largest bank in 2005.
The military leadership has been criticised for poor planning, poor strategy and poor execution. The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Jerusalem says now that the military chief has fallen on his sword, the spotlight is likely to shift back to the civilian leadership.
Under pressure
The military leadership has been criticised for poor planning, poor strategy and poor execution during the war.
WAR IN LEBANON Began on 12 July 2006 and lasted 34 daysIsraeli deaths: 116 soldiers and 43 civiliansAbout 1,000 Lebanese killed, mostly civiliansExtensive damage to infrastructure, thousands of homes destroyed Conflict facts and figures In particular, Gen Halutz is accused of relying too heavily on air power and waiting too long to send in ground troops.WAR IN LEBANON Began on 12 July 2006 and lasted 34 daysIsraeli deaths: 116 soldiers and 43 civiliansAbout 1,000 Lebanese killed, mostly civiliansExtensive damage to infrastructure, thousands of homes destroyed Conflict facts and figures In particular, Gen Halutz is accused of relying too heavily on air power and waiting too long to send in ground troops.
When they were sent in, many complained of being poorly equipped. When they were sent in, many soldiers complained of being poorly equipped.
Gen Halutz said he has decided to step down now because military inquiries into the conduct of the war had been completed. Gen Halutz said he had decided to step down now because military inquiries into the conduct of the war had been completed.
"With the echoes of battle having faded, I have decided to act on my responsibility," he is quoted as saying in his resignation letter."With the echoes of battle having faded, I have decided to act on my responsibility," he is quoted as saying in his resignation letter.
State radio said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had tried in vain to convince him to stay until the results of all the investigations were known. State radio said Mr Olmert had tried in vain to convince him to stay until the results of all the investigations were known.
Under pressure Not freed
Our correspondent says that now that the military chief has fallen on his sword, the spotlight is likely to shift back to the civilian leadership. Israel attacked the Lebanon-based Hezbollah after the group captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid last July.
Beset by political scandals as well as criticism of the war, Mr Olmert is already under intense pressure, and there is no sign of any let up, she adds. But it failed to free the soldiers or destroy Hezbollah before a ceasefire ended the fighting in August, with Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah claiming a strategic victory over Israel.
Ehud Olmert has been weakened by the conflictIsrael attacked the Lebanon-based Hezbollah after the group captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid last July. Ehud Olmert has been weakened by the conflictAbout 1,000 Lebanese were killed in the conflict, mostly civilians in Israel's vast bombardment of the county and land invasion in the south. Lebanon's infrastructure also suffered extensive damage.
But Israel failed to free the soldiers or soundly defeat Hezbollah before a ceasefire ended the fighting in August, with Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah claiming a strategic victory over Israel.
The Israeli army lost 116 soldiers. Forty-three Israeli civilians were also killed by more than 4,000 Hezbollah rocket attacks.The Israeli army lost 116 soldiers. Forty-three Israeli civilians were also killed by more than 4,000 Hezbollah rocket attacks.
About 1,000 Lebanese were killed in the conflict, mostly civilians in Israel's vast bombardment of the county and land invasion in the south.
The war caused extensive damage to Lebanon's infrastructure.
A former air force head, Gen Halutz became chief of the armed forces in June 2005.A former air force head, Gen Halutz became chief of the armed forces in June 2005.
Several other senior army commanders have resigned over the handling of the war. Several other senior army commanders have already resigned over the handling of the war.