Israeli Report Slams Lebanon War, Spares PM Olmert

An Israeli panel cited “grave shortcomings” in its final report on Ehud Olmert’s leadership during the 2006 Lebanon war, but said Israel's PM acted “on substantial grounds" and in what he felt was in the nation’s best interest, the Guardian reports. Olmert, who had expected the report to call for his resignation, was said to be relieved at the unexpectedly balanced appraisal.

Nonetheless, the government-commissioned report considered the ground operation aimed at Islamist terrorists in Lebanon a mess: "Entering into the war without an exit strategy was a grave failure," it said. In particular, it criticized a last-minute offensive staged hours before a truce was called, in which Israel lost 33 soldiers, saying it "did not achieve any military objectives.”