Tuesday, the Kadima mutiny was in full swing, as reported, and the prime minister was on the ropes. Wednesday, May 2, he was up and running.

At the outset of the cabinet meeting, the prime minister issued a warning: “Anyone planning to capitalize on the critical interim Lebanon War report for political gain should take it easy.” The revolt which sprang up in Olmert’s Kadima party Monday under the shock-impact of the war panel’s condemnation of the prime minister’s handling of last year’s Lebanon war melted away as the day wore on. By a combination of threats and maneuvers, the prime minister turned the faction around.

Foreign minister Tzipi Livni stepped back from her plan to present him with an ultimatum to resign or she would quit. Her followers got cold feet, except for Avigdor Yizthaki, chairman of the Kadima faction and coalition, who stepped down from both posts in protest against the prime ministers refusal to accept accountability for the failings of the Lebanon War.

After an interview with the prime minister, Lilvni told the media that the right thing would be for him to step down in view of the findings of the Winograd war inquiry panel, but it was up to him to make that decision. She said she would not resign as foreign minister and acting prime minister but stay on to ascertain that the correction of the faults exposed by the panel. Livni added she would not lend a hand to an early election, no-confidence motions to be tabled in the Knesset next week, or an alternative government.

Wednesday morning, in the spirit of business as usual, the prime minister led an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the application of recommendations made by the Winograd panel to correct the failings in the government and military’s conduct exposed by the Lebanon War.

The cabinet set up a special task force to carry through these recommendations headed by former chief of staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak. Olmert himself heads a ministerial committee for overseeing the task force.

Still to come is a mass protest Thursday night in Tel Aviv led by the reservists' movement and bereaved families that will call on the prime minister to quit.

The scathing criticism of the Olmert government's handling of the Lebanon War last summer was contained in the interim report submitted Monday, April 30. There was no demand for heads to roll. The final report due out in August is expected to be less kind to individual decision-makers.

So the prime minister and his government have bought a three-month lease of life, but arer not out of the woods yet.