Resignation and criminal investigations shake Israel

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By Stan Goodenough
January 17, 2007

The government-appointed Winograd Commission into the way Israel’s military and political leaders prosecuted the war against Hizb’allah in the summer of 2006 has yet to conclude its investigations and publicize its conclusions.

But heads are already rolling.

IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz voluntarily announced his resignation a few minutes after midnight Wednesday, amid speculation that he had learned of the commission’s leaning towards blaming him in great part for the failures of the war.

Political heads could be tottering too. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz are also being scrutinized by Winograd, and calls from Knesset Members for both men to resign were being heard after news broke about Halutz’s decision.

Separate from this issue, Olmert is also facing one, and possibly three police probes.

Israel’s State Prosecutor late Tuesday ordered a criminal investigation to be carried out into how the prime minister (when he was finance minister) oversaw the sale of Bank Leumi. Two additional corruption cases are under consideration by the Attorney-General.

Israel’s political leadership is widely regarded as shot through with corruption. A recent survey showed that upward of 70 percent of Israelis see their politicians this way.

Demands are being made on both the left and right for the government to be "cleansed" by some serious and far-reaching housekeeping.

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