Winograd Commission
The Winograd Commission (
Etymology
The word Winograd comes from Russian meaning 'grape'.
Background
The Israeli public, press, and parliament generally supported the war against Hezbollah but questioned how it was conducted.
Israelis have been debating the war since its conclusion. Critics note that the kidnapped soldiers were not rescued and that Hezbollah is rearming and has been strengthened politically. The government claims success in forcing Hezbollah from the border, and in pressuring the Lebanese government, aided by international forces, to assert itself in south Lebanon. Israeli officials took Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's admission that he would not have authorized 12 July action if he had known how strongly Israel would react as confirmation that the group had been weakened and that Israel's deterrence had been strengthened.[10]
During the war the Israeli government provided insufficient material support, including necessities, to the Home Front population of about one million people in northern Israel who were instructed to remain in shelters for much of the war's duration. Government support networks were not activated or were inadequately run. Much of the burden to care for vulnerable populations was left to individual volunteers and charities. The conditions of, and access to, shelters were often substandard and government assistance to northern Israelis in transportation and accommodations in central and southern Israel was highly lacking. Government inaction caused the weakest segments of Israeli society in affected areas to suffer the worst of the day-to-day privations.[11][12][13]
On the military front there were tactical, operative and logistic failures, including the flow of
A key strategic question relates to the controversial decision to launch full-scale warfare in response to the abduction of two individual soldiers and killing of eight soldiers in the process.[17]
After the war, increasing public criticism and protest over these issues was placed on
For a time it was unclear which of the three areas—cabinet, military, and civilian homefront—would be investigated by whom, and how. On 28 August, Olmert announced the creation of a governmental inspection probe led by former director of
Authority and operation
The commission has the same mandate as a state commission, except that its members were not appointed by the
On 6 February 2007, the
Preliminary report
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Ehud_Olmert_2006.jpg/125px-Ehud_Olmert_2006.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Amir_Peretz%2C_2006.jpg/125px-Amir_Peretz%2C_2006.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Dan_Halutz%2C_Chief_of_General_Staff.jpg/125px-Dan_Halutz%2C_Chief_of_General_Staff.jpg)
On 13 March 2007, the commission announced it would publish a preliminary report in the second half of April, which included personal recommendations regarding Prime Minister
On 28 April 2007, Israel's
Channel 2 also reported that the preliminary report also criticizes Peretz and Halutz, saying the Minister of Defense had failed, and that Halutz possessed "over-charisma", preventing the government from asking him to present alternatives to his plans for the war.[26]
The report, covering the years leading up to the war (2000–2006) as well as the first few days of the war (12–17 July), was released on 30 April 2007, and contained serious criticisms of Prime Minister Olmert, Defence Minister Amir Peretz and Chief of Staff Dan Halutz.[27]
Nevertheless, Peretz has tried to spin the report's findings in his favor, saying the report shows he "displayed understanding that more experienced people had not shown and that he need not resign immediately,"[28] despite the fact that the report quite clearly found that Peretz's "serving as Minister of Defense during the war impaired Israel's ability to respond well to its challenges."[29]
Many public figures called upon Olmert and Peretz to resign. Notable among them was then-Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.[30][31] Olmert refused to resign claiming Israel needed stability at that stage, and that new elections would be disruptive. Also in criticism of Olmert, Avigdor Yitzhaki, head of the Kadima faction and coalition chairman resigned in light of Olmert's refusal to step down.[32][33]
Livni's post was the topic of one of the only positive comments in the report. The commission noted that "from the first few days of the war it prepared the diplomatic ground that led to Security Council Resolution 1701 that brought a cease-fire."[34]
On 3 May 2007, three days after the release of the preliminary report, the Knesset held an extraordinary session to debate the report's findings. Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu called for Olmert to resign, but Kadima MPs supported the prime minister and a vote of no-confidence was not held.[35] Later that day, tens of thousands of protesters gathered at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv, calling on Olmert and his government to resign.[36][37] On 4 May, an IBA poll showed that nearly 80 percent favour Olmert's resignation.[38]
Final report
The Final Report of the Commission to Investigate the Lebanon Campaign in 2006 (the Winograd Committee) was submitted on 30 January 2008 to the then Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, and to the Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak. A press release covered some of the major conclusions.[39] The committee stood behind everything they had said in the Interim Report.
The report categorised the 2nd Lebanon war as a serious missed opportunity. The war had ended without clear military victory, a much smaller para-military organization successfully resisted against a much larger force which had complete air superiority among other technological advantages. Lebanese rockets aimed at Israel's civilian population continued throughout the war which Israel could not effectively stop. Life in the affected regions of Israel was seriously disrupted, with many civilians either leaving their homes temporarily or spending time in shelters. When Israel initiated a large scale ground offensive the offensive did not result in military gains and was not completed.
Some of the troubling findings revealed that there were serious failings and shortcomings in the decision-making processes at both the political and military levels, in preparedness, decision-making and performance in the IDF, particularly the army, in strategic thinking and planning, in both the political and the military echelons, and in the defence of the civilian population and in coping with rockets.
The decision to react immediately to the kidnapping limited Israel's range of options to only two, a stand-off war or an invasion. Israel went to war before it had decided which option to use and military and political echelons failed to have a serious discussion of the options or decide between them. Even so, until the first week of August, Israel was unprepared to launch a large-scale ground operation.
As a result, Israel was 'dragged' into a ground operation too late. Despite the fact that it was a limited war initiated by Israel itself, Israel did not use its military force well and effectively. Israel did not gain a political achievement because of military successes.
In the end, the IDF failed to provide an effective military response to the challenges posed. This conclusion must not take away the great willingness of the soldiers, especially reserve soldiers, to serve and fight in the war. There were many instances of heroism, courage, self-sacrifice and devotion of many commanders and soldiers. The air force in particular was superb, however they alone could not prove decisive as the air force was necessarily limited, due to the weaknesses in the overall performance of the IDF.
The war had significant diplomatic achievements. UNSC Resolution 1701, and the fact it was adopted unanimously, was an achievement for Israel, despite an absence of preparatory staff work and discussions. The staff work done in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the adoption of a favorable resolution in the Security Council was, in the main, quick, systematic and efficient.
Members
Commission members as of 18 September 2006, include:
- Chair: Justice (ret.) Eliyahu Winograd
- Law Professor Ruth Gavison
- Political Science Professor Yehezkel Dror
- Aluf (ret.) Menachem Einan
- Aluf (ret.) Chaim Nadel
Criticism
Dutch-Israeli military historian and author Martin van Creveld criticized some of Winograd's findings. Israel's war against Hezbollah was indeed "marked by a long series of failures" but he criticized the Winograd Commission for its failure to take into account the substantial achievements of the war. He argued that Hezbollah "had the fight knocked out of it," lost hundreds of its members and that the organization was "thrown out of South Lebanon," replaced by "a fairly robust United Nations peacekeeping force." He also stressed that as a result of the war, Israel is experiencing a level of calm on the Lebanon border not seen in over four decades.[40]
References
- ^ Dana Blander, "Main Issues in the Interim Report of the Winograd Commission" Archived 26 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Israel Democracy Institute, 7 May 2007.
- ^ Scott MacLeod. "What the Winograd Report Means for America" Archived 7 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine 03.05.07
- ^ Andrew Lee Butters (4 May 2007). "Why Olmert Is Hanging On". Time. Archived from the original on 7 May 2007.
- ^ "A harsh, healthy verdict on Israel's war in Lebanon". International Herald Tribune. 2 May 2007.
- ^ "'Olmert's Fight For Survival Is Hopeless'". Der Spiegel. 2 May 2007.
- ^ Leon Botstein (14 May 2007). "Rosner's Guest". Haaretz.
- ^ Guy Senbel (5 May 2007). "France, Israel: Vive La Democratie!". Guysen Israel News. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2007.
- ^ "Nasrallah praises Israel's investigation of war". The Jerusalem Post. 12 May 2007.
- ^ "Nasrallah praises Winograd report; Siniora: No mention of destruction in Lebanon". Haaretz. 2 May 2007.
- ^ Carol Migdalovitz, "Israel: Background and Relations with the United States", Congressional Research Service, 30 April 2007.
- OCHA, 4 August 2006
- ^ "Poll: Most residents of north stayed in north during Lebanon war", Haaretz, 21 September 2006
- ^ "'The Israeli New Orleans': Charities, Pols Slam Failures in North" Archived 12 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine, The Jewish Daily Forward, 29 September 2006
- ^ "'The intelligence didn't reach the troops'", Haaretz, 6 May 2007
- ^ "Tough lessons for Israeli armour", BBC, 15 August 2006
- ^ IDF: Logistics chief didn't say looting of Lebanese shops okay Archived 31 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Haaretz, 15 August 2006
- 2006 Israel-Gaza conflict.
- Ynetnews, 29 August 2006
- Jerusalem Post, 29 August 2006
- ^ "Winograd will head the inspection commission; Sheetrit: I'll ensure that the commission "will have teeth", Haaretz, 11 September 2006 (in Hebrew)
- Attorney General Menachem Mazuz stated that while the commission "'may make its recommendations public, it cannot recommend to the authority who appointed it [PM Ehud Olmert] to step down.'" ("Winograd Committee Cannot Oust PM")
- Ynetnews, 2 November 2006
- ^ HCJ 258/07 MK Zehava Galon v. The Governmental Commission of Inquiry for the Examination of the Events of the War in Lebanon 2006 (in Hebrew)
- ^ Winograd Commission website Archived 30 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine (in Hebrew)
- ^ "Olmert Won't Quit Over War Report", New York Times (Reuters), 28 April 2007.
- ^ Winograd committee: We won't call for resignations, let the public decide – Haaretz – Israel News
- ^ Yossi Verter, Nir Hasson, Mazal Mualem and agencies, "Lebanon war probe accuses Olmert of 'serious failure,' blasts Halutz, Peretz", Haaretz, 30 April 2007.
- ^ Ari Shavit, "Peretz: Findings show I needn't quit", Haaretz, 2 May 2007.
- ^ "The main findings of the Winograd partial report on the Second Lebanon War", Haaretz, 1 May 2007.
- ^ Yossi Verter, Mazal Mualem and agencies, "Livni: Olmert must resign; opposes fresh elections", Haaretz, 2 May 2007.
- ^ "Olmert should go, Israeli FM says", BBC, Wednesday, 2 May 2007.
- ^ Mazal Mualem, "Yitzhaki quits as coalition chair after ultimatum to Olmert", Haaretz, 2 May 2007.
- ^ "Israel cabinet in emergency talks", BBC, Wednesday, 2 May 2007.
- ^ Barak Ravid, "Foreign ministry lauded for diplomatic role in war", Haaretz, 2 May 2007.
- ^ "Olmert survives war report debate", BBC, Thursday, 3 May 2007.
- ^ "Israelis call on Olmert to resign", BBC, Thursday, 3 May 2007.
- ^ "Protesters call on Israel's Olmert to quit over Lebanon war failures" Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press, 6 May 2007.
- ^ "Yoman" Archived 13 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Israel Broadcasting Authority, 4 May 2007 (in Hebrew)
- ^ Final Report of the Winograd Committee was submitted on 30 Jan 2008 MFA archive.
- ^ Martin van Creveld, "Israel's War With Hezbollah Was Not A Failure", Jewish Daily Forward, 30 January 2008.
External links
- "Official website of the Winograd Commission"
- "Establishment of the Winograd Committee" (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- Official English summary of the Winograd's panel interim report Press Release (via The Wall Street Journal [PDF]), via The Jerusalem Post
- "Second Winograd War" – on the power Struggles Behind the Committee
- "Report of the Main Findings of the Winograd Commission" Archived 12 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- The Winograd Report: The Political Arena Archived 9 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- "Editor's Notes: A searing indictment," by Jerusalem Post Editor, David Horovitz
- In Washington: Winograd cracks the ice MJ Rosenberg, Jerusalem Post9 May 2007
- Thomas Friedman: Hezbollah win negated by Israel's strength Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- Israel's Bombing of Civilians Extended War, Olmert Told Panel by New York Times11 May 2007
- Olmert's Troubles Test Israel's Democracy Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- In aftermath of bungled war, Israel embraces culture of criticism[permanent dead link] Dion Nissenbaum
- From the Israel Democracy Institute
- The Winograd Commission Archived 26 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- Main Issues in the Interim Report of the Winograd Commission Archived 26 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- Lessons of Winograd by Shlomo Avineri, Jerusalem Post2 May 2007
- Winograd report prompts Lebanese to question Hezbollah by Yoav Stern, Haaretz 5 May 2007
- The Winograd report Ynetnews– all articles.
- Gabi Siboni, Command and Authority in the IDF: The Winograd Challenge, "Military and Strategic Affairs", Volume 10, No. 2, August 2007.
- Gabi Siboni, Victims of Friendly Fire: The Winograd Commission vs. the Citizens of Israel, "Military and Strategic Affairs", Volume 11, No. 1, June 2008.