Despite the release of an interim report damning his handling of last year’s war with Hizbollah, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he plans to stay in office. The Winograd Commission was also highly critical of Labour Party chief, Amir Peretz. It labelled both mens’ actions as “hasty” and not well planned.

Olmert said he would convene the Cabinet tomorrow to examine the findings.

Deputy Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres said the administration is strong enough to survive.
“We recommend to the government to correct all the mistakes,” he said.
“Israel is a strong democracy. We have to work out all the mistakes, yet, to continue to work. The government enjoys a majority in the parliament. There is no majority to bring down the government. So responsibility calls to correct the mistakes and go ahead.”

Olmert’s popularity plunged in the wake of the conflict, in which 1,200 Lebanese and 160 Israelis died.

A poll suggests 69 percent of the public want the prime minister to quit. Resignation calls are expected to intensify at a rally planned for Tel Aviv on Thursday.

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