Israeli PM braced for war report

A long-awaited final report into Israel's conduct of the 2006 war in Lebanon is due to be published.

Hostilities broke out in July 2006, when the Lebanese Islamist Hezbollah group captured two Israeli soldiers.

In the month-long conflict that followed, more than 1,000 Lebanese died, mostly civilians, along with 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

An interim report last April was highly critical of PM Ehud Olmert, his government and top military leaders.

There were calls for Mr Olmert to resign, but he has said he will never step down.

Opinion polls suggest most Israelis want Mr Olmert to step down if the commission's criticism is "very severe", while only a quarter say he should stay on whatever the findings.

The 62-year-old is buoyed by support from Israel's superpower ally, the US, to try to make peace with the Palestinians this year, though negotiations have faltered from the start.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7216879.stm