The Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee is scheduled to meet next week, the first time in some two months. The prestigious committee met only 12 times this year, as compared to 36 meetings in 2006 and 20 meetings in 2007.

The last meeting was held on 15 September, with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appearing. Next week’s meeting will include Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and it will address the deteriorating situation in southern Israel vis-à-vis the rocket attacks from Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Many members of the committee place the blame on the chairman, Kadima MK Tzachi Hanegbi. Former Meretz MK Dr. Yossi Beilin told reporters that under the leadership of Hanegbi, the committee became a “lobby for defense officials instead of an organ that inspects and critics the defense establishment”.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)