However, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert escaped direct criticism saying that Olmert's fateful decision to launch a bloody ground offensive toward the end of the 34 day conflict was legitimate, though the military did not produce the desired results.

Pundits predicted a harsh report would rekindle pressure for Olmert's resignation that followed the commission's interim findings last April, which criticised Olmert for "severe failure" in "hastily" going to war after Hezbollah killed three soldiers and captured two others in a cross-border raid in July 2006.

Though opposition politicians went on local TV to call for Olmert's head, most analysts believed the commission's report would not be politically fatal for Olmert.

After it was hand-delivered to Olmert, the prime minister's office was "breathing a sigh of relief," Olmert's spokesman, Jacob Galanty, was quoted as saying.

In a statement, Olmert's office said he had begun reading the report and would "study carefully" its conclusions. - DDNEWS