Peretz’s statement comes following this week’s resignation by Galilee Formation commander Brig.-Gen. Gal Hirsh. Hirsh preempted the report about to be filed by retired IDF Maj.-Gen. Doron Almog, who was appointed by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz to investigate the IDF’s performance during the war.
Almog (pictured above), in a nationally televised press conference on Sunday night, spelled out the highlights of his report, citing the failures of Hirsh and the events that permitted the kidnapping of IDF soldiers Goldwasser and Regev, who to date remain in Hizbullah custody.
“There are wide gaps” between written orders and the measures taken by Hirsch to prevent such an act, stated Almog, who was relentless in his scathing criticism of the senior commander’s failures. Almog stated infantry reservists were unprepared for the mission, unaware of the seriousness of events taking place around them.
Almog’s report sparked renewed cries from IDF reservists, who since the war have been maintaining a tent protest camp in the Knesset Rose Garden area, demanding that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz all resign in light of the their failures in the war.
The reservists were angered at Almog’s report, stating the blame rests not only at the division command level, but higher, on the shoulders of the General Staff and the chief of staff in particular.
Preceding Hirsh’s resignation was IDF northern commander former Major-General Udi Adam, who shortly following the war announced he was stepping down. Adam’s decision was sparked by Halutz’s vote of no-confidence during the war, when he sent his deputy staff to oversee command decisions on the front, usurping Adam’s command abilities, a rare but not unprecedented move.
Chief of Military Intelligence May be Next
According to senior news analyst Amnon Abramowitz, Chief of Military Intelligence Major-General Amos Yedlin is the next in line, predicting in the next phase of Almog’s probe, he will be fingered for his mishandling of the war. Yedlin, like Halutz, is a former air force pilot. That alone is enough for many senior infantry officers, who maintain a former air force officer cannot possibly be qualified to run the affairs of the military, unfamiliar with the rules of combat and intricacies of ground forces troops.
Yanush Calls on Halutz to Resign Now
IDF legend Yanush Ben-Gal, a former major-general, called on Halutz to resign immediately. Speaking on Channel 2 TV, Ben-Gal admitted he does not know Halutz personally, adding his is not motivated by any malice towards the IDF commander, but out of love and a sense of loyalty for his country.
Ben-Gal stated the decision to appoint a former air force commander was a mistake, stating he cannot possibly possess the knowledge base acquired by a senior commander who works his way up the chain of command as a field officer.
Ben-Gal is calling for the immediate appointment of retired major-general Gabi Ashkenazi, who resigned as deputy IDF chief when Halutz was selected for the top post instead of him. Ben-Gal stated Ashkenazi is a seasoned IDF infantry commander, one with an understanding of what the IDF needs and with the tools to handle the current situation. He added that it is unacceptable that senior commanders be held responsible for failures while the supreme commander, the chief of staff, does not draw the appropriate conclusions and resign.
Peled: The IDF Needs to Rebuild its Ground Forces
Former northern commander, another retired major-general, Yossi Peled on Monday stated he is less concerned with who will resign next, but he sees the pressing need to rebuild the integrity of the IDF’s ground forces.
Peled concurs with intelligence reports which state the next confrontation with Hizbullah may only be months away, delivering an ominous message that the ground forces of the IDF are not prepared for such a reality.
Peled is calling to concentrate efforts on rehabilitating the infantry and preparing for the likelihood of a renewed and increasingly fierce conflict with Hizbullah.
Peres: We Lost a Modicum of Our Deterrence Abilities
Vice Premier Shimon Peres on Monday stated that the IDF lost a measure of its deterrence abilities in Lebanon this summer, acknowledging the war took its toll on the military and the nation.
Hirsh’s Resignation Strengthens Peretz
Analysts agree that Sunday’s resignation by Hirsch will strengthen Defense Minister Peretz, who recently declined a decision by Halutz to promote him along with a number of other commanders. Peretz stated he would not make any such moves until investigations into the war are complete.
For Halutz, It is a Matter of Time
Many senior military analysts agree that for Halutz, it is only a matter of time until he submits his resignation. Halutz, the first IDF chief of staff to come from the ranks of the air force is seen as a high-tech general, a man who is expected to implement reforms, to prepare the IDF to meet the challenges of the next generation fighter. He is credited with doing so for the air force, leaving his command position with a high rating.
Many opposed his appointment as chief of staff for the same reasons spelled out by Ben-Gal, explaining only an infantry officer can possibly address the daily realities of the nation’s army.
Nevertheless, Halutz was appointed but he now finds himself in a tenuous position, realizing his most senior commanders are being targeted as having failed in their mission, botching the war, which resulted in the deaths of many soldiers and in the view of many, failed to accomplish any real goals – namely the disarming or dismantling of Hizbullah, which today remains a real threat.
Almog (pictured above), in a nationally televised press conference on Sunday night, spelled out the highlights of his report, citing the failures of Hirsh and the events that permitted the kidnapping of IDF soldiers Goldwasser and Regev, who to date remain in Hizbullah custody.
“There are wide gaps” between written orders and the measures taken by Hirsch to prevent such an act, stated Almog, who was relentless in his scathing criticism of the senior commander’s failures. Almog stated infantry reservists were unprepared for the mission, unaware of the seriousness of events taking place around them.
Almog’s report sparked renewed cries from IDF reservists, who since the war have been maintaining a tent protest camp in the Knesset Rose Garden area, demanding that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz all resign in light of the their failures in the war.
The reservists were angered at Almog’s report, stating the blame rests not only at the division command level, but higher, on the shoulders of the General Staff and the chief of staff in particular.
Preceding Hirsh’s resignation was IDF northern commander former Major-General Udi Adam, who shortly following the war announced he was stepping down. Adam’s decision was sparked by Halutz’s vote of no-confidence during the war, when he sent his deputy staff to oversee command decisions on the front, usurping Adam’s command abilities, a rare but not unprecedented move.
Chief of Military Intelligence May be Next
According to senior news analyst Amnon Abramowitz, Chief of Military Intelligence Major-General Amos Yedlin is the next in line, predicting in the next phase of Almog’s probe, he will be fingered for his mishandling of the war. Yedlin, like Halutz, is a former air force pilot. That alone is enough for many senior infantry officers, who maintain a former air force officer cannot possibly be qualified to run the affairs of the military, unfamiliar with the rules of combat and intricacies of ground forces troops.
Yanush Calls on Halutz to Resign Now
IDF legend Yanush Ben-Gal, a former major-general, called on Halutz to resign immediately. Speaking on Channel 2 TV, Ben-Gal admitted he does not know Halutz personally, adding his is not motivated by any malice towards the IDF commander, but out of love and a sense of loyalty for his country.
Ben-Gal stated the decision to appoint a former air force commander was a mistake, stating he cannot possibly possess the knowledge base acquired by a senior commander who works his way up the chain of command as a field officer.
Ben-Gal is calling for the immediate appointment of retired major-general Gabi Ashkenazi, who resigned as deputy IDF chief when Halutz was selected for the top post instead of him. Ben-Gal stated Ashkenazi is a seasoned IDF infantry commander, one with an understanding of what the IDF needs and with the tools to handle the current situation. He added that it is unacceptable that senior commanders be held responsible for failures while the supreme commander, the chief of staff, does not draw the appropriate conclusions and resign.
Peled: The IDF Needs to Rebuild its Ground Forces
Former northern commander, another retired major-general, Yossi Peled on Monday stated he is less concerned with who will resign next, but he sees the pressing need to rebuild the integrity of the IDF’s ground forces.
Peled concurs with intelligence reports which state the next confrontation with Hizbullah may only be months away, delivering an ominous message that the ground forces of the IDF are not prepared for such a reality.
Peled is calling to concentrate efforts on rehabilitating the infantry and preparing for the likelihood of a renewed and increasingly fierce conflict with Hizbullah.
Peres: We Lost a Modicum of Our Deterrence Abilities
Vice Premier Shimon Peres on Monday stated that the IDF lost a measure of its deterrence abilities in Lebanon this summer, acknowledging the war took its toll on the military and the nation.
Hirsh’s Resignation Strengthens Peretz
Analysts agree that Sunday’s resignation by Hirsch will strengthen Defense Minister Peretz, who recently declined a decision by Halutz to promote him along with a number of other commanders. Peretz stated he would not make any such moves until investigations into the war are complete.
For Halutz, It is a Matter of Time
Many senior military analysts agree that for Halutz, it is only a matter of time until he submits his resignation. Halutz, the first IDF chief of staff to come from the ranks of the air force is seen as a high-tech general, a man who is expected to implement reforms, to prepare the IDF to meet the challenges of the next generation fighter. He is credited with doing so for the air force, leaving his command position with a high rating.
Many opposed his appointment as chief of staff for the same reasons spelled out by Ben-Gal, explaining only an infantry officer can possibly address the daily realities of the nation’s army.
Nevertheless, Halutz was appointed but he now finds himself in a tenuous position, realizing his most senior commanders are being targeted as having failed in their mission, botching the war, which resulted in the deaths of many soldiers and in the view of many, failed to accomplish any real goals – namely the disarming or dismantling of Hizbullah, which today remains a real threat.