Last update - 00:00 02/11/2006
Minister Ben-Eliezer calls on IDF Chief of Staff Halutz to resign
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
National Infrastructures Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor) on Thursday called on Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Dan Halutz to resign, in light of what he called Halutz's failed leadership during the second Lebanon war.
In calling for the IDF chief's resignation, Ben-Eliezer also cited recent high-level appointments to the IDF command made by Halutz without first consulting with Defense Minister Amir Peretz.
In an interview with Israel Radio, Ben-Eliezer said that Halutz erred by not taking action against IDF division commanders who fought the war in Lebanon. Last week, the General Staff decided against dismissing four officers who commanded divisions during the 34-day war with Hezbollah.
According to Ben-Eliezer, Halutz is incapable of rebuilding the army's weakened deterrence ability and should therefore leave his post immediately.
Ben-Eliezer's call on Halutz to resign came amid growing tensions between the IDF chief and Peretz in relation to Halutz' proposed appointments to the IDF command.
In a meeting held Wednesday afternoon, Peretz told Halutz he would continue to review the proposed appointments. Peretz is unhappy with the chief of staff's decision not to dismiss any of the four division commanders.
Sources close to Halutz, however, denied reports published on several Internet sites Thursday saying the chief of staff intends to resign if the appointments do not go through.
Halutz seeks to appoint Brigadier General Gal Hirsch as the head of strategic division at the IDF Planning Directorate; Brigadier General Guy Tzur to become commander of the Tze'elim training base; the two other division commanders who fought in the Lebanon war, Brigadier General Erez Tzukerman and Brigadier General Eyal Eizenberg would remain in their divisions for an additional, third, year.