Department officials sent a report on the issue to Congress on Jan. 29. By law, lawmakers must determine whether further investigation by the State Department is warranted.

The report represents an embarrassment to the United States and Israel, one of its closest allies. During last summer's war, the U.S. was seen as letting Israel continue attacks inside Lebanon long after most of the rest of the world had demanded a halt to military action.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian suicide bomber killed three Israelis and himself in an attack on the coastal resort of Eilat on Jan. 29.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 3, 2007
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