Israeli News: A Daily Analysis

Major Events in Israel and the Middle East

A Daily Analysis

By Marc Schulman

Olmert Attacks Winograd Commission

Friday May 11, 2007

Today Prime Minister Olmert attacked the Winograd Commission. Sources in his office claimed that praises for him were censored out of the report and that members of the committee were attacking him for personal reasons. This follows the pattern: when Olmert is criticized he attacks the attacker. He has been doing the same thing with the States Comptroller, Michal Lindenstrauss' various investigations. Instead of answering the charges, Olmert has just accused Lindenstrauss of having a personal agenda.

Israeli Channel 10 television reported that Olmert is considering appealing the Supreme Court to stop the Commission from making personal recommendations. He claims that the Commission has not sent out warning letters to individuals. He hopes, according to sources, to delay the final report, which everyone expects will call on him to resign. Members of the committee responded this evening to Olmert�s criticism, saying they will not be dragged into the mud with Olmert and that it is up to the public to respond to what they wrote. They seem to have a greater expectation of the public then I do.

There was an interesting and disturbing item on the News Magazine on Channel 10 tonight. They ran a piece on prisoners from the Yom Kippur War a generation later. The piece showed how their experience was so extreme that it has affected them and their children.