In a letter to the troops, Israel’s military chief acknowledged publicly for the first time on Thursday that there were shortcomings in the military’s performance during the recent Lebanon war.Israel went into the month-long war as a united front against Hizbollah guerrillas, but since the fighting ended last week, the country has splintered into a cacophony of reproachful voices.Criticism of the military’s preparedness and tactics swelled after the battles ended without a clearcut victory for Israel. Questions about the wisdom of 11th-hour battles and reports of food and water shortages have fueled demands for an inquiry into the war’s conduct and the resignation of Israel’s wartime leaders.In a letter to Israeli fighters, military chief Lt Gen Dan Halutz wrote: “Alongside the achievements, the fighting uncovered shortcomings in various areas—logistical, operational and command. We are committed to a thorough, honest, rapid and complete investigation of all the shortcomings and successes.”“Questions will be answered professionally, and everyone will be investigated—from me down to the last soldier,” according to the letter, released by the military on Thursday.War broke out on July 12, hours after Hizbollah fighters killed three Israeli soldiers and captured two in a bold cross-border raid. About 160 Israelis—one-quarter of them civilians—died in the fighting, and northern Israel was all but paralysed by nearly 4,000 rockets fired from Lebanon.AMY TEIBEL
