Key quotes from war report

Jerusalem: Key quotes from a statement in English by Israel's Winograd Commission on its interim report on Monday into the conduct of last year's war in Lebanon:

"We impose the primary responsibility for these failures on the prime minister, the minister of defence and the (outgoing) chief of staff. All three made a decisive personal contribution.

"The ministers voted for a vague decision, without understanding and knowing its nature and implications.

"The prime minister bears supreme and comprehensive responsibility for the decisions of his government and the operations of the army. His responsibility for the failures in the initial decisions concerning the war stem from both his position and from his behaviour ... The prime minister made up his mind hastily, despite the fact that no detailed military plan was submitted to him and without asking for one.
"All of these add up to a serious failure in exercising judgment, responsibility and prudence.

"The minister of defence did not have knowledge or experience in military, political or governmental matters. He also did not have good knowledge of the basic principles of using military force to achieve political goals. Despite these serious gaps, he made his decisions during this period without systemic consultations ... His serving as minister of defence during the war impaired Israel's ability to respond well to its challenges.

"The army and the chief-of-staff (CoS) were not prepared for the event of the abduction despite recurring alerts. When the abduction happened, he responded impulsively ... The CoS's responsibility is aggravated by the fact that he knew well that both the prime minister and the minister of defence lacked adequate knowledge and experience in these matters, and by the fact that he had led them to believe that the IDF (Israel Defence Force) was ready and prepared. The chief-of-staff failed in his duties as commander in chief of the army ... and exhibited flaws in professionalism, responsibility and judgment ... The IDF was not ready for this war.

"Israel's government in its plenum failed in its political function of taking full responsibility for its decisions.

"We hope that our findings ... will not only impel taking care of the serious governmental flaws and failures ... but will also lead towards a renewed process in which Israeli society, and its political and spiritual leaders will take up and explore Israel's long-term aspirations and the ways to advance them."