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| Israeli leaders 'rushed to war' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has been criticised for taking Israel to war in Lebanon last year "hastily" and without a comprehensive plan. | |
| A government inquiry panel found him and other leaders guilty of "very serious failings" in handling the war. | |
| About 1,200 Lebanese and 160 Israelis were killed after Israel launched operations against Hezbollah militants who had captured two Israeli soldiers. | About 1,200 Lebanese and 160 Israelis were killed after Israel launched operations against Hezbollah militants who had captured two Israeli soldiers. |
| Mr Olmert is already suffering unprecedented unpopularity levels. | Mr Olmert is already suffering unprecedented unpopularity levels. |
| He received the report on Monday morning, a few hours before its conclusions were read out on live TV. | He received the report on Monday morning, a few hours before its conclusions were read out on live TV. |
| "We will definitely study your material... and ensure that in any future threat scenario against Israel, the difficulties and faults you cited will be corrected," Mr Olmert said. | "We will definitely study your material... and ensure that in any future threat scenario against Israel, the difficulties and faults you cited will be corrected," Mr Olmert said. |
| 'overly ambitious' | |
| Retired judge Eliahu Winograd presented the findings of the six-month investigation at a news conference. | |
| He said the decision to launch the war without a well thought-out plan showed "a severe failure in judgment, responsibility and caution". | |
| The aims of the war - to crush Hezbollah and force it to hand back two Israeli troops captured in a deadly cross-border raid - were "overly ambitious and impossible to achieve", Mr Winograd said. | |
| Some 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers, were killed in the 34-day conflict, while the two captured soldiers remain in captivity. | |
| "The responsibility is on the prime minister, the defence minister and chief of staff," Mr Winograd said. | |
| The former chief of staff, General Dan Halutz, has already resigned. | |
| The report is expected to raise the pressure on Mr Olmert and Defence Minister Amir Peretz. | The report is expected to raise the pressure on Mr Olmert and Defence Minister Amir Peretz. |
| A rally is planned for Thursday in Tel Aviv, calling for Mr Olmert and his government to quit. | A rally is planned for Thursday in Tel Aviv, calling for Mr Olmert and his government to quit. |
| However, the prime minister's aides have said he will not step down and intends to carry on. | However, the prime minister's aides have said he will not step down and intends to carry on. |