Key quotes from Israel's report on Lebanon war

(Reuters) - A government-appointed inquiry found serious faults among Israel's political and army leaders during the 2006 war in Lebanon but offered qualified backing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, easing pressure on him to quit.

Here are some key quotes from the official translation of a speech by inquiry chairman, Eliahu Winograd, who presented the panel's final report on the war at a televised news conference on Wednesday.

"Overall, we regard the second Lebanon war as a serious missed opportunity. Israel initiated a long war, which ended without its clear military victory. A semi-military organization of a few thousand men resisted, for a few weeks, the strongest army in the Middle East..."

"We found serious failings and shortcomings in the decision-making processes and staff-work in the political and the military echelons and their interface."

"Israel did not use its military force well and effectively, despite the fact that it was a limited war initiated by Israel itself."

"We believe that they (the prime minister and defense minister) both acted out of a strong and sincere perception of what they thought at the time was Israel's interest."

"Nonetheless it should be stressed that the fact we refrained from imposing personal responsibility does not imply that no such responsibility exists."