2 members of PM's commission disqualified
Olmert faces more obstacles as attorney general disqualifies two officials appointed for one of his proposed commissions of inquiry into war in Lebanon
Ehud Olmert suffers another blow. Attorney General Menachem Mazuz announced Tuesday evening that he will not allow the appointment of Rafael CEOYedidya Yaari and Boeing Company's representative in Israel David Ivri as members of the commission of inquiry into the political echelon's conduct during the war in Lebanon, which Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced last week.
Mazuz decided to disqualify the two because of a conflict of interests, as both are working opposite the Israeli government and the defense estbalishment.
Sources in Olmert's office reported that "the prime minister will soon appoint two other members for the commission."
The attorney general's decision came a few hours after Olmert decided not to hold a government meeting on Wednesday, which was meant to confirm the appointment of the commissions of inquiry he announced during an assembly in Haifa last Monday.
Olmert decided to cancel the government meeting due to legal disagreements regarding the written script of the appointment, the commission's mandate and the authorities which will be granted to the commission.
In addition to the disqualification of the members of the commission, the prime minister struggles to deal with the growing public demand for a state commission of inquiry to investigate the failures in Lebanon.
MKs demand state inquiry commission
On Tuesday, members of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee joined this demand, but Olmert stood his ground and asked to prepare the two proposed commissions – one of which will be led by former Head of Mossad Nahum Admoni, and the second examining the defense estbalishment, possibly led by former IDF Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak.
A third examination that the prime minister proposed was that of State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss regarding the home front. Olmert suffered another blow when he confronted the state comptroller, who told him he already began probing the failures of the war in Lebanon without the prime minister's invitation through the media.
Another problem Olmert faces is the opposition of Defense Minister Amir Peretz to Olmert's proposed commissions. Peretz and many of the Labor ministers and senior members called for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry.
"I have nothing to hide," said Peretz, opposing Olmert and his proposed commissions.
Furthermore, the commission of inquiry on the defense establishment led by Amnon Lipkin-Shahak was suspended by Peretz. The commission is waiting for the upcoming head-to-head between Kadima and Labor members on Sunday on the issue of how to proceed with the inquiry on the failures of the war in Lebanon.
Sources from the prime minister's office reported that he spoke with the two disqualified members, thanked them for their willingness to be part of the commission and announced that he will soon appoint other members.
