Minister Jacob Edery
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin
Soon to be official: Last summer's fighting was 'war'
Ministerial committee to declare that last summer's conflict was officially a 'war'. Name to be selected later. Peretz' office: We have exclusive authority to declare and name
Minister-without-portfolio Jacob Edery announced that the Ministerial Committee for Ceremonies and Symbols, which he heads, will meet on Monday and declare that last summer's fighting
between Israel
and Hizbullah
was officially a "war," rather than merely "fighting" or an "operation."
According to sources in Edery's office, the decision to convene the committee was taken following pressure from bereaved families.
Selecting an official name for the war, in which 155 Israeli soldiers and civilians died, is likely to be controversial and turf battles between various government bodies are expected.
According to Defense Minister Amir Peretz's office, it is the Defense Ministry that has the exclusive legal authority to name a war. Indeed, his ministry has already appointed a committee, led by Professor David Libai, a former justice minister, to look into the matter.
