In addition to the bipartisan criticism faced by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for his refusal to establish an official and authoritative investigative committee to investigate government's mishandling of the war, the State Comptroller, too, has something to say.
Olmert had requested that Lindenstrauss take upon himself "an extensive and in-depth examination of the defects discovered in the home front's preparedness in the face of the threat of missiles and rockets." The Prime Minister thus hoped that, together with the two committees he plans to name to review the government and the military, all three structures - political, military and civilian - would be examined.
However, it did not work, and the Comptroller came out swinging. In a statement released this morning (Tuesday), Lindenstrauss said he was "shocked to learn, via the media, of Olmert's request," and emphasized that the State Comptroller's authorities are stipulated by law. "In any event," the Comptroller wrote, "the authority to investigate the war in the north is in its hands. The State Comptroller, in fulfilling his job, is responsible to the Knesset, and not to the government."
Accentuating his office's "absolute independence" and its need to remain independent, Lindenstrauss said, "Only the Comptroller and his office will determine what it will investigate and at what scope, with no outside intervention at all." He also emphasized that he had already begun a comprehensive investigation on its own of the deficiencies that were uncovered in the home front's readiness.
The Hebrew NFC news site reports that it has learned that Lindenstrauss is "fuming at the false presentation and the use of the State Comptroller's Office that [Olmert] tried to make."
The Prime Minister's Bureau did not take this lying down, and responded with a biting statement of its own:
"We were shocked to learn, via the media of course, of the State Comptroller's complaints. Clause 21 of the relevant law states that the Comptroller must prepare a report on any matter in his purview, if requested to do so by the Knesset, committee, or the government... The Prime Minister's moves were and will be coordinated in advance with the Attorney General. Since we heard from the media that the Comptroller wrote the statement himself, we are convinced that he erred in good faith, since it is inconceivable that the State Comptroller does not know the law under which he operates."
Labor Party ministers Eitan Cabel and Ophir Pines say they object to Olmert's investigative program, and say they will vote against it in the Cabinet. "The committees proposed by Olmert have no clear authorities and no timetable," Pines said. Both he and Cabel said they would try to get other ministers to vote against it as well.
Surprisingly, despite Olmert's decision, Defense Minister Amir Peretz is expected to work towards forming a public investigative committee.
It is assumed that in any event, Olmert will have a sizeable majority in the Cabinet for his plan. MK Shlomo Benizri of the Shas Party says his party opposes the formation of an official investigative committee and favors Olmert's proposal. "Unfortunately," Benizri said today, "some of those who support an official committee have motives that are not pure... As of now, it has been proven that official investigative committees have not brought any benefit."
The most famous such committee, the Agranat Commission that was charged with investigating the Yom Kippur War blunders in 1973, recommended the dismissal of then-Chief of Staff David Elazar and a handful of other military officials, but found no fault with the political leadership. Despite this, public pressure was brought to bear upon then-Prime Minister Golda Meir, who resigned shortly afterwards.
Kadima ministers are also expected to support Olmert's plan. Interior Minister Roni Bar-On said that a public investigative committee "would have put the brakes on the State of Israel."
The fourth coalition partner, the conservative Pensioners Party, is also expected to go along with Olmert's proposals.
Olmert had requested that Lindenstrauss take upon himself "an extensive and in-depth examination of the defects discovered in the home front's preparedness in the face of the threat of missiles and rockets." The Prime Minister thus hoped that, together with the two committees he plans to name to review the government and the military, all three structures - political, military and civilian - would be examined.
However, it did not work, and the Comptroller came out swinging. In a statement released this morning (Tuesday), Lindenstrauss said he was "shocked to learn, via the media, of Olmert's request," and emphasized that the State Comptroller's authorities are stipulated by law. "In any event," the Comptroller wrote, "the authority to investigate the war in the north is in its hands. The State Comptroller, in fulfilling his job, is responsible to the Knesset, and not to the government."
Accentuating his office's "absolute independence" and its need to remain independent, Lindenstrauss said, "Only the Comptroller and his office will determine what it will investigate and at what scope, with no outside intervention at all." He also emphasized that he had already begun a comprehensive investigation on its own of the deficiencies that were uncovered in the home front's readiness.
The Hebrew NFC news site reports that it has learned that Lindenstrauss is "fuming at the false presentation and the use of the State Comptroller's Office that [Olmert] tried to make."
The Prime Minister's Bureau did not take this lying down, and responded with a biting statement of its own:
"We were shocked to learn, via the media of course, of the State Comptroller's complaints. Clause 21 of the relevant law states that the Comptroller must prepare a report on any matter in his purview, if requested to do so by the Knesset, committee, or the government... The Prime Minister's moves were and will be coordinated in advance with the Attorney General. Since we heard from the media that the Comptroller wrote the statement himself, we are convinced that he erred in good faith, since it is inconceivable that the State Comptroller does not know the law under which he operates."
Labor Party ministers Eitan Cabel and Ophir Pines say they object to Olmert's investigative program, and say they will vote against it in the Cabinet. "The committees proposed by Olmert have no clear authorities and no timetable," Pines said. Both he and Cabel said they would try to get other ministers to vote against it as well.
Surprisingly, despite Olmert's decision, Defense Minister Amir Peretz is expected to work towards forming a public investigative committee.
It is assumed that in any event, Olmert will have a sizeable majority in the Cabinet for his plan. MK Shlomo Benizri of the Shas Party says his party opposes the formation of an official investigative committee and favors Olmert's proposal. "Unfortunately," Benizri said today, "some of those who support an official committee have motives that are not pure... As of now, it has been proven that official investigative committees have not brought any benefit."
The most famous such committee, the Agranat Commission that was charged with investigating the Yom Kippur War blunders in 1973, recommended the dismissal of then-Chief of Staff David Elazar and a handful of other military officials, but found no fault with the political leadership. Despite this, public pressure was brought to bear upon then-Prime Minister Golda Meir, who resigned shortly afterwards.
Kadima ministers are also expected to support Olmert's plan. Interior Minister Roni Bar-On said that a public investigative committee "would have put the brakes on the State of Israel."
The fourth coalition partner, the conservative Pensioners Party, is also expected to go along with Olmert's proposals.