Last update - 00:00 30/10/2006
Despite probe, war commanders won't face dismissal from IDF
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
The four Israel Defense Forces commanders who headed the divisions that fought in the recent war in Lebanon will not be dismissed, despite ongoing investigations of the divisions' conduct during the war, it was decided Monday at a meeting headed by IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz.
Instead, two of the commanders will receive new postings, and two others will serve in their current positions for a third year.
Brigadier General Gal Hirsch, the commander of Division 91, will be appointed to head the strategic brigade of the chief of staff planning department, a position also responsible for the IDF's foreign communication. The command of Division 91 will be taken over by Brigadier General Imad Fars.
Brigadier General Guy Tsur, who served as commander of Division 162, will be appointment as head commander of the military base at Tze'ilim. He will switch positions with Brigadier General Uzi Moskowitz, who will take over command of Division 162.
Brigadier Generals Erez Zuckerman and Eyal Eisenberg, who served as commanders of reserve divisions during the war, will remain in their positions for a third year.
Halutz had hinted in recent weeks of his intention, announcing that the investigation of the war would not end with "decapitation in the city square." The four commanders have been under investigation for their divisions' conduct in the war.
Senior military sources said the decision to reassign the commanders was not surprising. "From the minute the chief of staff himself decided not to take responsibility for the problems of the war and resign, it was very difficult for him to demand it of someone else," the said.
The sources added that the new assignations were not promotions, but would not necessarily prevent them from receiving future promotions.