[JURIST] Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert [official website] said Monday that he will establish two inquiry committees [speech transcript] to investigate Israel's conduct during the latest crisis in the Middle East [JURIST news archive], one to examine "the functioning of the Government, its proceedings and decision making, and anything else it sees fit to examine," and an internal military investigation to "conduct a thorough examination in order to implement the necessary changes in the preparedness of the IDF, its combat doctrine and force structuring." The government committee of inquiry will be chaired by a former head of Israel's spy agency and will include legal and military experts.

Neither of the investigations will have the power to force witness testimony, disappointing critics who have called for an independent state inquiry. Olmert dismissed those calls Monday, saying "this will not repair the defects or prevent incidents." Olmert called an independent judicial investigation a "tempting" political solution, but said that it "is not what the country needs," favoring instead "an effective, professional inquiry, to examine the issues in depth, draw conclusions, and learn lessons." AP has more. Haaretz has local coverage.