Israel condemns testimony release

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The Israeli PM's office has criticised a court decision ordering a commission into last year's conflict in Lebanon to publish the testimonies of officials.

A spokesman said the publication of such statements would cause severe harm to Israeli interests.

Several testimonies have already been published, but others including that of PM Ehud Olmert, have not been released.

The court decision allows censors to withhold any parts of the testimonies that could harm national security.

But Mr Olmert's office said uncensored material could still damage Israel's foreign relations.

'Concern'

"[There] is a real and present concern... over damage to the security of the state, its foreign relations and its relations with various individuals and groups that were involved, and continue to be involved, in managing the state's security issues," the Jerusalem Post newspaper reported the statement as saying.

An Israeli government-appointed commission, the Winograd Commission, is tasked with investigating last summer's conflict with Lebanon and identifying lessons to be learned from it.

It is expected to issue an interim report t this month. On 12 July 2006 Hezbollah militants crossed into Israel and seized two Israeli soldiers sparking an air and land assault on Lebanon.

About 1,000 Lebanese, most of them civilians, died in the 34 days of fighting along with 116 Israeli soldiers and 43 civilians.

The conflict ended without Israel achieving its main aim, the release of the two soldiers.