Last update - 00:00 08/10/2007
Officer who commanded Gilad Shalit's brigade to be promoted
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
The brigade commander under whose watch Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit was kidnapped will be promoted to senior commander of the Golani Brigade.
The decision to promote Colonel Avi Peled was made by IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi during a special general staff meeting.
Peled's promotion was met with some reluctance due to his role as commander of IDF forces in the Southern Gaza Strip when Corporal Gilad Shalit was kidnapped. An investigative team probing the kidnapping found operational failures on the part of Peled and the brigade he commanded, but did not recommend disciplinary action.
Shalit was abducted on June 25, 2006 from the area of Kerem Shalom by Hamas gunmen who crossed under the Gaza security fence into Israel. The gunmen, from the armed miltary wing of Hamas, fired anti-tank missiles and automatic rifles at the tank crew, killing two soldiers and seriously wounding Shalit.
Shortly after the incident, then-IDF chief of staff Dan Halutz stated that he would not take measures against commanders serving in the area at the time.
Nonetheless, uncertainty over Peled's appointment was overweighed by his excellence in perform a series of appointments in his career, including his time as commander of the Egoz unit and as a regiment commander in the Golani Brigade.
Noam Shalit, Gilad's father, refused to comment on Peled's promotion, saying that his comment would not help bring Gilad home.
Peled will not begin his new position until next summer. The General Staff also decided to promote Colonel Moti Baruch to head the Nahal Brigade.