Following the resignation Tuesday night of IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz in the wake of the Lebanon War, politicians and others have been calling upon Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz to do the same. The feeling of many is that it would be absurd to have the army chief pay the price for the disappointing results of the war, while his superiors, who bear a greater share of the ultimate responsibility, continue in their positions.
Prime Minister Olmert showed no signs of taking this course this morning, however. He released an announcement expressing sorrow over Halutz's resignation, after trying unsuccessfully to convince the Chief of Staff to remain in his post.
Neither has Defense Minister Amir Peretz shown signs of quitting, despite the strong opposition he faces even within his own Labor Party. Peretz praised Halutz's "many years of contributions to Israeli security." Former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, currently the Infrastructures Minister, said, "No one can take from Halutz the merits he amassed as one of the best commanders of the Israel Air Force."
MK Gideon Saar, Knesset faction chairman of the Likud, responded shortly after Halutz's midnight resignation and said, "It is inconceivable that the Chief of Staff should take the responsibility, while those the political echelons above him, who bear full responsibility for the failures of the war, continue to evade their accountability and continue in their positions."
A friend of Halutz, Gen. (Ret.) Gideon Sheffer, told Army Radio that Halutz was worthy of praise for taking responsibility and resigning. "It is appropriate that someone else implement the conclusions that the Winograd Commission [investigating the recent Lebanon War] will reach," he said.
Sheffer said he hopes the resignation of Halutz "will serve as a model for Peretz and Olmert, who have a greater responsibility for the war than he does."
MK Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor), who was a member of the ministerial security mini-cabinet during the war, said, "Halutz had no choice but to go, but he is not the only one who is responsible; the government is too."
The Judea and Samaria Rabbis Council issued this statement:
"Whoever was a partner to the expulsion from Gush Katif and northern Shomron will pay for his actions. Throwing Jews out of their land and homes and giving Land of Israel territory to our enemies was an act of unparalleled desecration of G-d's Name, and G-d pays back in various ways all those who were involved. However, the gates of repentance have not been closed, and it is always possible to rectify the error."
Other reactions to Gen. Halutz's resignation:
MK Effie Eitam (National Union), himself a Brigadier-General in reserves, said the Chief of Staff's resignation was an inevitable result of the failure of this past summer's war. He said Halutz's decision was a classic and fitting example of a public officer taking responsibility for failures under his command. Eitam noted that Halutz has many merits in numerous contributions to the IDF and Air Force in his long career.
National Religious Party Chairman MK Zevulun Orlev said he is puzzled why it took so long for the Chief of Staff to resign. "But better late than never," he added.
MK Zahava Gal'on (Meretz) said that Olmert and Peretz "do not have the ethical authority to appoint the next Chief of Staff. The responsibility for the failures of the war does not stop at the military levels."
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) said, "It's too bad that Halutz wasted four months for the State of Israel that were necessary to rehabilitate the IDF. Now Olmert and Peretz, too, must vacate their positions, because the entire country, and not just the army, needs to be rehabilitated."
MK Yuval Shteinitz (Likud) said, "I salute Halutz for his tens of years of service and dedication on behalf of Israel's security. He is one of the IDF's best officers; top quality... He understood that in the situation that was created, he would have difficulty leading the army's rehabilitation, and he preferred what was good for the country over what was good for himself."
Prime Minister Olmert showed no signs of taking this course this morning, however. He released an announcement expressing sorrow over Halutz's resignation, after trying unsuccessfully to convince the Chief of Staff to remain in his post.
Neither has Defense Minister Amir Peretz shown signs of quitting, despite the strong opposition he faces even within his own Labor Party. Peretz praised Halutz's "many years of contributions to Israeli security." Former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, currently the Infrastructures Minister, said, "No one can take from Halutz the merits he amassed as one of the best commanders of the Israel Air Force."
MK Gideon Saar, Knesset faction chairman of the Likud, responded shortly after Halutz's midnight resignation and said, "It is inconceivable that the Chief of Staff should take the responsibility, while those the political echelons above him, who bear full responsibility for the failures of the war, continue to evade their accountability and continue in their positions."
A friend of Halutz, Gen. (Ret.) Gideon Sheffer, told Army Radio that Halutz was worthy of praise for taking responsibility and resigning. "It is appropriate that someone else implement the conclusions that the Winograd Commission [investigating the recent Lebanon War] will reach," he said.
Sheffer said he hopes the resignation of Halutz "will serve as a model for Peretz and Olmert, who have a greater responsibility for the war than he does."
MK Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor), who was a member of the ministerial security mini-cabinet during the war, said, "Halutz had no choice but to go, but he is not the only one who is responsible; the government is too."
The Judea and Samaria Rabbis Council issued this statement:
"Whoever was a partner to the expulsion from Gush Katif and northern Shomron will pay for his actions. Throwing Jews out of their land and homes and giving Land of Israel territory to our enemies was an act of unparalleled desecration of G-d's Name, and G-d pays back in various ways all those who were involved. However, the gates of repentance have not been closed, and it is always possible to rectify the error."
Other reactions to Gen. Halutz's resignation:
MK Effie Eitam (National Union), himself a Brigadier-General in reserves, said the Chief of Staff's resignation was an inevitable result of the failure of this past summer's war. He said Halutz's decision was a classic and fitting example of a public officer taking responsibility for failures under his command. Eitam noted that Halutz has many merits in numerous contributions to the IDF and Air Force in his long career.
National Religious Party Chairman MK Zevulun Orlev said he is puzzled why it took so long for the Chief of Staff to resign. "But better late than never," he added.
MK Zahava Gal'on (Meretz) said that Olmert and Peretz "do not have the ethical authority to appoint the next Chief of Staff. The responsibility for the failures of the war does not stop at the military levels."
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) said, "It's too bad that Halutz wasted four months for the State of Israel that were necessary to rehabilitate the IDF. Now Olmert and Peretz, too, must vacate their positions, because the entire country, and not just the army, needs to be rehabilitated."
MK Yuval Shteinitz (Likud) said, "I salute Halutz for his tens of years of service and dedication on behalf of Israel's security. He is one of the IDF's best officers; top quality... He understood that in the situation that was created, he would have difficulty leading the army's rehabilitation, and he preferred what was good for the country over what was good for himself."