Last update - 00:00 19/09/2006
Halutz: I'll wear uniform until I'm stripped of it
By Haaretz Service
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Dan Halutz addressed calls for his resignation over his conduct during the Lebanon war for the first time on Tuesday, saying he would wear his uniform until he is stripped of it.
MKs slammed Halutz during a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, calling for the military chief's resignations.
"It is not appropriate for him to continue to appear in public and wear the IDF uniform," National Union MK Zve Hendel said regarding Halutz.
"It can't be that an entire year was wasted over the whims of a certain family that appointed him to this position. He must take off his uniform, and I expect him to take responsibility for this matter, " Hendel added.
Halutz said in response "I will wear my uniform until it is stripped off of me and if that is hard on you, we can find ways of hiding from one another."
Labor MK Danny Yatom asked Halutz whether the latter has learned a lesson from the recent resignation of Northern Command senior officer Ehud Adam, and the actions of the army's top brass.
Halutz answered, saying, "I myself feel that if I were incapable [of functioning] I would go. The point is, that there are two sides to every coin. On the one hand, you need to take responsibility and abandon ship, but on the other hand, you have to take responsibility and set sail."
The military chief said the IDF would conduct a thorough probe of the events in Lebanon, which will put his conduct to a test. He said the team conducting the military investigation would work closely with other committees probing the Lebanon war.
Likud MK Danny Naveh asked the IDF chief whether he feels it was the right choice to launch a raid only 48 hours before a UN-brokered ceasefire was called to end the war.
Halutz said it was the right choice to do so and denied claims that he had made the move as a "spin" tactic to draw the media's attention.
"Whoever thinks it was a media spin should present proof, it was done to strengthen the UN's decision," Halutz said.