JERUSALEM - An investigation into Israeli efforts to protect civilians during last summer's war in Lebanon has erupted into an open conflict pitting the military and the prime minister against the top government watchdog.

State comptroller Micha Lindenstrous had planned to issue an interim report to parliament that was expected to accuse the army and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of leaving civilians virtually defenseless in the face of the Hezbollah guerrillas' rocket and missile barrages.

But he canceled plans to release preliminary findings of his report Tuesday after officials in Olmert's office and the army complained over the weekend that the comptroller was on a witch hunt and had not given them time to answer his questions, leaving the report one-sided.

Instead, Lindenstrous gave a parliamentary committee a bland report on his efforts to complete the investigation, and criticized Olmert, saying the premier's lack of cooperation was delaying the inquiry.

Lindenstrous has been looking into the government's actions during the 34-day war last summer, when Hezbollah guerrillas fired nearly 4,000 rockets into northern Israel.

Critics have charged that residents of the north were not adequately protected, citing poor conditions in many bomb shelters, no early warning systems in some towns, and no evacuation plans. A total of 159 Israelis died during the conflict, including 39 civilians. More than 1,000 people were killed in Lebanon.

Olmert's popularity plunged after the war — which Israelis viewed as inconclusive — and his approval rating has plummeted below 20 percent. Amid the fallout from the war, Lindenstrous began investigating the government's performance in protecting the country, while another commission was appointed to probe the handling of the war itself.

Olmert and Lindenstrous exchanged angry letters Sunday that were leaked to the media, and Lindenstrous pledged to appear before the parliamentary committee over the prime minister's objections.

On Tuesday, the army asked the Supreme Court to ban Lindenstrous from releasing his findings. Before the court could rule, Lindenstrous agreed to keep the report private for now and to only testify about the process of writing the report.

Even then he criticized Olmert, saying the prime minister was delaying the response to his questions.

"Our problem was receiving the information we needed from the prime minister," he told the committee. "If we don't have the answers and background material, then all our work is delayed."

Olmert's office refused to comment Sunday on Lindenstrous' accusations. -AP