A rare court battle pitting Israel's armed forces against its legislature erupted on Monday over a probe into last year's Lebanon war that could be critical of the military and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government.

The general heading the Home Front Command asked the High Court to stop a parliamentary committee from meeting on Tuesday to hear an interim report by the government's main watchdog into civil defense activities during the 34-day conflict.

The findings of the investigation conducted by the State Comptroller's Office could set the bar for a separate government-appointed commission examining the way the military and Olmert's cabinet conducted the inconclusive war.

State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss investigated complaints the shelters were not adequately prepared and military and civilian authorities failed to cater for the needs of a populace under daily fire.