Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is holding an emergency meeting of his Cabinet today following a scathing report on his handling of last year's war against Hizbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.
This week's report has fueled a growing chorus of calls for Olmert's resignation, including from members of his coalition government.
A top lawmaker in Olmert's Kadima Party became the highest-ranking official to urge Olmert to step down, and party officials said Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, a party heavyweight, would follow suit later in the day.
The 34-day war has been widely perceived as a failure. Monday's report said Olmert bore ultimate responsibility, accusing him of poor judgment, hasty decision making and lack of vision.
A defiant Olmert opened the special Cabinet session by hinting that reports of his political demise were premature.
"To those who are eager to take advantage of this report to reap certain political advantages, I suggest 'slow down,'" he said in comments broadcast on Israeli media.
"To those who are eager to take advantage of this report to reap certain political advantages, I suggest 'slow down,'" he said in comments broadcast on Israeli media.
Two new polls published today in Israeli newspapers said some two-thirds of Israelis want Olmert to resign immediately.