From a 'hero' to a zero

There is nothing in the Eliyahu Winograd report that we don't already know. The inquiry into last year's Israeli war against Lebanon went to great lengths to explain the failure of the Israeli army to defeat Hezbollah, placing the blame squarely on the "hasty" decisions of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his defence minister, Amir Peretz.

According to most Israeli surveys, the public believes Hezbollah won the sixth Arab-Israeli war. Israel failed to achieve any of its goals, especially the release of its two soldiers captured by the Lebanese resistance group on July 12.

The Winograd panel does not have the authority to fire officials, but the scathing report could ignite public protests and demonstrations, coupled with political infighting, that could force the resignation of Olmert and Peretz.

Olmert, tarnished by the war and unrelated corruption allegations, appears likely to remain in office for the time being. He already has said he will not resign, and his coalition partners want to avoid an upheaval that could lead to new elections and cost them their own jobs. However, the report leaves him weaker than ever. His coalition government will not be able to make important decisions, particularly with regard to the peace process in which Israel is required to withdraw from occupied lands.

But a lame duck government cannot take such crucial steps. Henceforth, the peace talks will remain stalled and Israel will again miss another chance to make peace with its Arab neighbours.

And it is not just any chance. For the first time since the beginning of the Arab-Israeli conflict, Arab states are unanimous in supporting the Saudi peace initiative which offers normalisation with the Jewish state in return for withdrawal from Arab lands occupied since 1967.

Therefore the Israelis will do themselves and the region justice by replacing the Lebanon war "hero" with another leader strong enough to commit to peace.