JERUSALEM (AP)-- A former Israeli army chief of staff said in comments published Thursday that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert must resign for not stopping a final, ill-fated battle in the Lebanon war.

Moshe Yaalon joined a growing chorus of military figures who have questioned the wartime decisions of political and defense officials.

The sole purpose of the operation that killed 33 Israeli soldiers at the end of the 34-day war against the Lebanese militia Hezbollah was to make it appear that Israel had won, Yaalon told the Haaretz newspaper. "That was a spin move," he said. "It had no substantive security-political goal, only a spin move. It was meant to supply the missing victory picture. You don't do that." When asked if Olmert has to resign, Yaalon replied "Yes. He can't say he didn't know."

The current military chief, Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, must also resign, Yaalon said, for "failing in the management of the war," and Defense Minister Amir Peretz should be replaced since he does not have enough security experience, he said.

Peretz admitted Wednesday that there were "failures" during the war and said they must be corrected.

Appearing on Channel 2 TV in what was called his first interview since the war, the embattled minister said he backs a formal inquiry into Israel's handing of the war. He spoke just hours after Maj. Gen. Udi Adam, the army commander of Israel's northern front, including the Lebanon border, stepped down.

Olmert has established a government commission of inquiry into the handling of the war in light of widespread public criticism of the government and defense establishment. The critics have lambasted the decision to delay a ground offensive until the last stage of the war, and questioned whether Israel should have launched the offensive at all.

Also, reserve soldiers who were called up have complained about outdated and missing equipment, poor preparation and faulty tactics.