Israel Matzav

Let the reservists eat cake!

The Olmert government met today, and with the echo of protesters against Olmert's conduct of the recent war outside the window, King Ehud II decided to postpone any decision on a national commission of inquiry, refusing to even discuss the matter.

The prime minister has so far not decided which type of committee would be formed - a state commission of inquiry or a government commission -and has opted to discuss the matter further with advisors.

According to Israel Radio, Olmert has also postponed his appearance at the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, scheduled for this Monday, to the following week.

Some political analysts argue that both are an attempt by Olmert to "buy time", hoping that public pressure to form a state inquiry commission would die down. [This is all the more reason for the pressure to continue and intensify. CiJ]

Dozens of protesters demonstrated outside the Prime Minister's office Sunday morning, demanding that the government authorize a state committee.

Earlier, senior sources in the Prime Minister's Office had said that if a decision were made, it would be brought to the cabinet on Sunday. The three options under discussion were a state commission of inquiry, a government commission, or a parliamentary one.

Olmert told the cabinet last Sunday that he was discussing the matter with Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz and would inform the cabinet of his decision within a matter of days.

A state committee of inquiry, which has been set up in the past following the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the massacres in Sabra and Shatila in 1982, and the October 2000 riots in the Galilee, has the widest statutory powers and is headed by a Supreme Court Justice.

Some of you may recall that not too long ago I had a discussion of "the C word." If Olmert keeps going like this, I wouldn't rule that out.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:33 PM