Last update - 00:00 25/09/2006
Peretz and Halutz at odds over new GOC Northern Command
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
Almost two weeks after the GOC Northern Command Major General Udi Adam announced his intention to resign from his post, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and Chief of Staff Dan Halutz are having difficulty reaching an agreement on the identity of his replacement.
In letters and conversations with Peretz and Halutz, Adam asked that his successor be named as soon as possible since he intended to resign from the Israel Defense Forces immediately. Halutz and Peretz had originally wanted to announce the identity of the new GOC Northern Command before Rosh Hashanah and make the change-over soon afterward.
However Peretz's decision not to have Halutz make the choices involving appointments alone, and to discuss with Halutz each general short-listed for the various posts, has delayed the appointment.
Halutz favors Major General Gadi Eisenkot, head of the General Staff's Operations Branch, as Adam's replacement. According to defense sources, Peretz's leading candidate is GOC Southern Command, Yoav Galant, whom Peretz believes can utilize his experience in the south in the new position. Both Peretz and Halutz see the appointment of a new GOC Northern Command as critical for the rehabilitation of the IDF following the war in Lebanon and in preparing the army for another possible confrontation. However, at least by the holiday, they had not been able to come to an agreement regarding who that officer is to be.
Peretz and Halutz will also have to decide soon on a new GOC Central Command to replace Major General Yair Naveh, who has announced his intention to resign in January. Naveh has put off his decision to resign following appeals from Peretz and Halutz to stay in uniform. He has been approached about heading Northern Command, and is apparently not interested in the post. Naveh has expressed an interest in the Ground Forces Command, however Major General Benny Gantz will probably be continuing in that post.
Meanwhile, another problem has emerged: Peretz wants his military secretary, Brigadier General Eitan Dangot to be promoted to the rank of major general. Peretz has high regard for Dangot, who is considered a close associate of the defense minister. However, Halutz is not impressed with Dangot and does not want him promoted.
Brigadier General Mike Herzog was recently appointed Peretz's bureau chief. Herzog was promised he would be promoted to general and a member of the General Staff when he left his Defense Ministry post.