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Israel had prepared for Hezbollah, Olmert says
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published March 10, 2007
JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has told an investigative panel that Israel began planning for war in Lebanon months before last summer's conflict against Hezbollah guerrillas, countering criticism that he was caught off guard and acted too hastily in launching the military operation, officials said Friday. The account, first reported in the Haaretz and Maariv dailies, gave the first details of Olmert's testimony to the commission investigating the government's management of the much-criticized war. The commission, whose findings could determine Olmert's political future, is expected to release a preliminary report in the coming weeks. The 34-day war was triggered July 12 when Hezbollah guerrillas crossed Israel's northern border, killed three soldiers and returned to Lebanon with two captured Israeli soldiers. In his testimony Feb. 1, Olmert told the commission that he held numerous meetings long before the war to discuss a possible conflict with Hezbollah, Haaretz said Thursday. Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, the army chief during the conflict, resigned in January after months of criticism. The final findings of the government commission could also determine the fate of Defense Minister Amir Peretz.
[Last modified March 10, 2007, 02:28:31]
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by Avraham
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03/10/07 07:03 AM
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If Olmert planned for the Hezbollah attack, what kind of plans did he have that led Israel into not destroying Hezbollah and the Lebanese shields on the first few days?
What kind of leader is such a poor planner as to only have a stalemate?
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