Labor Party leader Ehud Barak joined Attorney General Menachem Mazuz Friday in attacking the Minister of Justice's intention to create a committee of inquiry in the matter of the wiretaps against Vice Prime Minister Chaim Ramon. He said that the Labor party "vehemently opposes the move."

The initiative to create such a committee, he said, "looks like a struggle that is meant to strike fear into the hearts of the investigative elements while they are busy with other investigations" – a reference to the investigations against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

The establishment of a governmental committee of inquiry with powers of subpoena and of making personal recommendations will come up for a vote in the government Sunday.