The Movement for Quality Government announced Friday it would request another hearing on the matter, according to Israel Radio.
The petition to dissolve the government-appointed Winograd Commission investigating the war was filed by the organization in the hopes of forcing the government to establish an independent commission that would probe the actions of decision-makers and the military. Such a commission would have the authority to subpoena as well as dismiss government officials, including the Prime Minister.
Despite widespread public support for the move, and the High Court’s criticism of the government for appointing the Winograd Commission, the court did not see its place to interfere with the government’s decision.
The court made a point of stating that its unwillingness to compel the establishment of an independent commission should not be interpreted as a “seal of approval” for the prime minister’s actions. The court’s vice president, Justice Eliezer Rivlin, had harsh words of criticism for the prime minister and his cabinet ignoring widespread public demands for the state commission of inquiry.
In the near-split decision, Justice Rivlin rejected the petition, as did justices Salim Jubran, Asher Grunis and Ester Hayut. Voting in favor of the Movement for Quality Government petition were justices Miriam Na’or, Elyakim Rubinstein, and Ayala Procaccia. The latter justices were also involved in the earlier decision on the case a number of months ago, heard before a smaller panel of judges.
Attorneys for the state defended the government’s move, stating it was well within its rights to appoint the commission in place of the state commission, insisting the Winograd Commission has a mandate to probe the war in detail in an effort to uncover the facts in the case.
The court’s decision brings significant relief to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who despite calls for an independent inquiry from a number of his ministers, including Defense Minister Amir Peretz and Transportation Minister Saul Mofaz, has remained firm in his decision to go with the government-appointed investigation.
A growing grassroots movement spearheaded by IDF reservists, including well-respected officers, did not succeed in persuading Olmert to change his mind.
Nevertheless, the reservists seemed determined to continue protests, but now, significantly weakened, this remains to be seen. With the euphoria of the new ceasefire and Olmert’s calls for a renewed diplomatic process with the PA (Palestinian Authority), the political and media spotlights are shifting attention away from the Second Lebanon War. As such, it is possible that the calls for the resignations of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and the prime minister may be silenced once and for all.
The petition to dissolve the government-appointed Winograd Commission investigating the war was filed by the organization in the hopes of forcing the government to establish an independent commission that would probe the actions of decision-makers and the military. Such a commission would have the authority to subpoena as well as dismiss government officials, including the Prime Minister.
Despite widespread public support for the move, and the High Court’s criticism of the government for appointing the Winograd Commission, the court did not see its place to interfere with the government’s decision.
The court made a point of stating that its unwillingness to compel the establishment of an independent commission should not be interpreted as a “seal of approval” for the prime minister’s actions. The court’s vice president, Justice Eliezer Rivlin, had harsh words of criticism for the prime minister and his cabinet ignoring widespread public demands for the state commission of inquiry.
In the near-split decision, Justice Rivlin rejected the petition, as did justices Salim Jubran, Asher Grunis and Ester Hayut. Voting in favor of the Movement for Quality Government petition were justices Miriam Na’or, Elyakim Rubinstein, and Ayala Procaccia. The latter justices were also involved in the earlier decision on the case a number of months ago, heard before a smaller panel of judges.
Attorneys for the state defended the government’s move, stating it was well within its rights to appoint the commission in place of the state commission, insisting the Winograd Commission has a mandate to probe the war in detail in an effort to uncover the facts in the case.
The court’s decision brings significant relief to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who despite calls for an independent inquiry from a number of his ministers, including Defense Minister Amir Peretz and Transportation Minister Saul Mofaz, has remained firm in his decision to go with the government-appointed investigation.
A growing grassroots movement spearheaded by IDF reservists, including well-respected officers, did not succeed in persuading Olmert to change his mind.
Nevertheless, the reservists seemed determined to continue protests, but now, significantly weakened, this remains to be seen. With the euphoria of the new ceasefire and Olmert’s calls for a renewed diplomatic process with the PA (Palestinian Authority), the political and media spotlights are shifting attention away from the Second Lebanon War. As such, it is possible that the calls for the resignations of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and the prime minister may be silenced once and for all.