Israel orders govt watchdog to review wiretapping

By Allyn Fisher-Ilan JERUSALEM, July 6 (Reuters) - Israel's cabinet ordered the government's main watchdog on Sunday to review the use of wiretapping, in response to criticism over the handling of a sex offences case involving Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's deputy. Media and commentators said the issue was an attempt by Olmert's allies to discredit the police and state prosecutors at a time when the prime minister is under criminal investigation over alleged corruption, which he denies. After five hours of discussions, cabinet members stopped short of ordering a state inquiry similar to the one that examined shortcomings in the 2006 Lebanon war. Ministers voted instead to have the state comptroller, the main government watchdog, investigate the use of eavesdropping in broad terms. Olmert abstained in the vote relating to the... [read full story]