Eliyahu Winograd

Eliyahu Winograd ( _he. אליהו וינוגרד) (b. December 1926) is a former Israeli acting Supreme Court judge and former president of the Tel Aviv District Court. Between September 11, 2006 and April 30, 2007 he chaired the Winograd Commission to investigate the failures experienced by Israel during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.

Winograd holds a Ph.D. in Law from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He was appointed as a judge in 1972 and was eventually appointed president of the Tel Aviv District Court. He also served for a brief time as acting Supreme Court judge. In 1996, he retired and became active as an arbitrator and Mediator, engaged in municipal law, and chaired numerous public commissions.

Commissions

Below are commissions or probes chaired by Eliyahu Winograd.

University students tuition fees

Chaired the Public Commission to evaluate the tuition fees of university students — the commission recommended that tuition fees be gradually reduced by fifty percent, recommendations which the government has thus far failed to implement.

Pension Funds Agreement

Chaired the Public Commission dealing with the Pension Funds Agreement — later resigned due to other pending tasks; was thanked by the Finance Minister for his professionalism and contribution for the plan to save the Pension Funds.

Air Force cable accident

Chaired the Inquiry Commission to investigate the Air Force cable accident and rescue — the commission submitted its findings to then-Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai

Rank of Aluf Yitzhak Mordechai

Chaired of the Public Commission dealing with the military rank of Aluf (ret.) Yitzhak Mordechai — the commission decided that Mordechai will retain his rank despite having been convicted of sexual misconduct.

tatus of Ron Arad

Chaired the Public Commission to examine the chain of events and available information on kidnapped IDF soldier Ron Arad — the commission concluded that there is no reason to change the assumption that Arad remains alive.

Ethiopian blood donations

Deputy chaired the Commission to examine blood donations among the Ethiopian community — the commission instructed Magen David Adom to cease destroying the blood donations of Ethiopian Jews.

Authority of Military Censor

Chaired the Inspection Probe for reviewing the authority of the Military Censor — report yet to be published.

Winograd Commission (2006)

Chairs the Winograd Commission to investigate the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict — ongoing.

The partial report by the commission probing the Second Lebanon War was issued Monday, April 30, 2007. The report accused Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of "severe failure" in exercising judgment, responsibility and caution during the outset of the war. The report says Olmert acted hastily in leading the country to war in July 2006, without having a comprehensive plan. The prime minister, the report said, "bears supreme and comprehensive responsibility for the decisions of 'his' government and the operations of the army."

External links

* [http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/Archive/Editorials/2006/Editorials%2020-Sep-2006 Summary of Editorials from the Hebrew Press about appointment of the Winograd Commission (2006)] (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
* [http://www.vaadatwino.org.il/ Official Website of The Winograd Commission ]