Last update - 00:00 15/10/2006
Interim war findings expected to focus blame on four generals
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
The interim findings of an Israel Defense Forces' investigation of the battles fought in this summer's Lebanon war, which will be presented to the General Staff forum on Sunday, are expected to heap severe criticism on the conduct of the four divisions that fought in the war.
Chief of Staff Dan Halutz is expected to ask the investigators for additional material, but the information that has been gleaned up to now is also likely to influence Halutz's decision regarding the military futures of several commanders who took part in combat.
Some General Staff officials familiar with the issue said the army was looking to blame the division commanders for what were, in the words of one, "the failures of the war."
The divisions involved are Division 91, headed by Brigadier General Gal Hirsch; Division 162, headed by Brigadier General Guy Tzur; an elite reserve division headed by Brigadier General Eyal Eisenberg; and an armored reserve division headed by Brigadier General Erez Zuckerman.
But while some of the investigations focused on the divisions, others examined the conduct of the General Staff. All the inquiries criticized the Northern Command and its commander during the war, Major General Udi Adam.
Adam will be leaving his post in about a week and will be replaced by Major General Gadi Eizenkot. IDF sources said they think that once Adam leaves, he will openly discuss the wartime combat and his position on what transpired.
On Thursday, Tal Russo replaced Eizenkot as head of the General Staff operations division and was promoted from brigadier general to major general.