In response to the report in Yediot Ahronot this morning regarding the Winograd Committee, according to which, "a senior source in the Prime Minister's Bureau," criticized how the committee is being conducted and also described it as, "amateurish," the Prime Minister's Bureau would like to make it clear that no one in the Bureau has made any such criticism about the work of the Winograd Committee whatsoever.  Specifically, no criticism was made pertaining to the Committee's hearing witnesses' testimonies behind closed doors.  On the contrary, this was proper and justified.

Our position is to refrain – at this stage – from releasing testimony heard by the Winograd Committee because this would result in real damage to Israel's vital interests.  This is a tangible and immediate concern to the country's security, foreign affairs and to people and bodies which dealt – and continue to deal – with these concerns.   Furthermore, the release of testimony would result in future witnesses being reluctant to freely and openly testify before similar hearings.  This, in turn would compromise the effectiveness of future committees in reaching their intended goals of finding and correcting faults.

Even if it is decided to release testimony heard before the Committee, it would be prudent to limit it only to the testimony of political figures involved in the public arena, and not to that of other witnesses such as military personnel, clerks, etc.

It will be recalled that this position, on the release of testimony before the Winograd Committee, was that of the Committee and of Attorney General Meni Mazuz.  The Supreme Court rejected this opinion and ruled otherwise, obliging the Committee to release the testimony forthwith.

We would like to express our astonishment at the quotations that appear in the aforesaid report; they were not made by anyone in the Prime Minister's Bureau and certainly do not reflect in any way the views or position of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert!