Last update - 00:00 10/12/2006
Peretz slammed for plan to replace Defense Ministry official
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Ministers Ze'ev Boim and Shalom Simhon on Sunday criticized Defense Minister Amir Peretz's decision to discontinue Brigadier General (res.) Avigdor Kahlani's term as head of the social services department at the Ministry of Defense.
Absorption minister Boim (Kadima) praised Kahalani, who is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal for his role in defending the Golan Heights during the 1973 Yom Kippur war, and called on Peretz to reevaluate his decision.
"Kahalani is a war hero, and I am calling on Peretz not to dismiss him, [because] he is doing a good job," Boim said.
Peretz had previously asked Kahalani, who has been head of the social services department for over two years, to step down because he intended to appoint a representative of the kibbutz movement to that position, a source close to Kahalani said.
Last week, Peretz suggested postponing Kahalani's departure by three months as a compromise.
Channel two reported on Saturday night that Kahalani recently sent a letter to Peretz in which he rejected his offer, and stated that he will only leave his position if he is sacked.
Kahalni representatives slammed Peretz for what they said was an attempt to curry favor with the influential Kibbutz movement ahead of the Labor Party primaries by awarding it to one of their members. They added that Peretz allegedly confirmed their claims in a conversation with Kahalani.
Peretz says he reminded Kahalani that in the past the position had been allocated to the kibbutz movement. One of the names dropped as a potential successor for Kahalani was Kibbutz Movement official, Yoel Maharshak.
The Defense Minister's Office said it planned on replacing Kahalani and it will hold a meeting with him on the subject in the near future.