Israel´s Barak Says Will Not Quit Govt Over Report

Some commentators had speculated that Olmert would be forced out if the report said he was personally responsible for the failings.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said on Sunday he would not pull his Labour party out of the government, ensuring Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's coalition holds together for now despite a critical Lebanon war report.

"I decided to stay," Barak told reporters in remarks aired on Army Radio. "And why am I staying? I remain in my job as defence minister because I know the challanges that face Israel."

An official report into Israel's 2006 war against Hezboallah guerillas in Lebanon was highly critical of the government and military but did not blame Olmert directly.

Some commentators had speculated that Olmert, who is pursuing peace talks with the Palestinians, would be forced out if the report said he was personally responsible for the failings.

Barak had suggested he may pull out of Olmert's fractious coalition after the final report, which was issued on Wednesday. The centrist Labour party is Olmert's largest coalition partner and Barak quitting would likely have prompted early elections.

Barak said on Sunday he would stay in the job to deal with recommendations set by the Winograd Commission and would later "set a date for elections" but offered no further details.