Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., February 21, 2008 Adar1 15, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:41 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 06:34 20/02/2008 IDF history dept. chief allegedly made soldiers help write his books By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: IDF, israel, books, history The Israel Defense Forces history department, which primarily investigates and documents historical incidents, is usually far from the spotlight. But a military police investigation into charges that the department head misused public resources by forcing his employees to contribute to his books has shaken up the usually staid department. Colonel Dr. Shaul Shay (Res.) is accused of demanding that his soldiers and officers help write his research books about the Middle East and global Islamic movements. This summer, during the height of the investigation against him, Shay ended his term as department head, unconnected to the allegations. He has since been appointed to a position no less prestigious: head of the security policy department at the National Security Council, which answers to the Prime Minister's Office. Advertisement Chief military prosecutor Colonel Liron Liebman wrote to the head of the military police that military property may have been used for non-military purposes and that some unauthorized work was carried out. Shay denies the allegations. "It appears that public resources were used for private purposes," said Edward Britcher of Kiryat Yam, whose complaint on behalf of his son, who worked for Shay, sparked the investigation. "My son was not the only one who was exploited as cheap labor in order to glorify the name of the history department head and to save on the cost of editing his books." Britcher said that his son David Magen translated material from English that was then used in academic articles and a book by Shay. When Magen told his father, Britcher turned to Avner Barzani, the commissioner of soldier complaints. Barzani passed responsibility for the investigation to the chief military prosecutor. The military police investigation includes a letter, compiled by a soldier, in which Shay agreed to work at a college in Ashkelon. "I didn't ask him if it was for work purposes or not," the soldier told Haaretz. Books that Shay authored and co-authored include "Islamic Terror Abductions in the Middle East," "The Shahids: Islam and Suicide Attacks" and "The Globalization of Terror: The Challenge of Al-Qaida and the Response of the International Community." Shay did not respond to repeated requests for comment, but his lawyer, Eitan Maoz, said that the complainant got the story backward and that Shay allowed the army to use information he had gathered privately. "What happened here is that information was brought into the army, not the other way around," said Maoz. "This is information that Dr. Shay, as a veteran, experienced and esteemed historian, had gathered - and there is only one Shaul Shay. He saw fit to give the army use of this information. His private information was adapted for internal lectures in the army, and he should be praised for that. To turn the entire situation against him and argue that he exploited the army for his personal goals - that is not true, either legally or factually. "I don't think this investigation will go anywhere," Maoz said. The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement that it was not aware of the investigation when Shay took his new post in November, and said it would examine the matter when the investigation produced final recommendations. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Land of milk and honey Israeli model Bar Refaeli poses for Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition. If the earth's a-rockin' Shas MK blames gays for recent earthquakes in the region.   1.   Corruption 19:19  |  T 20/02/08   2.   I hope he rots in jail for many years 00:34  |  victim 21/02/08

Today Online Israel still building in settlements despite Olmert's promise Responses: 276 Abbas cool to aide's call for Kosovo-like statehood declaration Responses: 171 Amira Hass: Israel is stealing Palestinian land, private or not Responses: 130 Peace-minded residents of Gaza and Sderot share joint blog Responses: 50 Chelsea's Israeli soccer coach sent anti-Semitic death threat Responses: 29 Rosner's Domain Does John McCain need Evangelical voters? (WTR) The only f word people should be afraid of is fanaticism Gaza: The Problem Nobody Wants Poll: Is it important to have an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of 2008? The row over Obama's stance on Israel is a dispute between Jews More Headlines 00:08 UN Chief: Ahmadinejad's verbal attacks on Israel intolerable 23:28 Russian-Israeli tycoon: Russian aliyah absorption unsuccessful 23:35 IDF Chief of Staff: I can't rule out military conflict in near future 20:50 Chelsea's Israeli soccer coach gets anti-Semitic death threat 01:48 High Court hears plea against parole of Danny Katz's murderers 22:06 Poll: 75% of young Israeli Arabs support voluntary national service 14:25 Netanyahu: Olmert government taking measures to cede Jerusalem 22:13 Palestinian woman poses as Israeli in order to undergo surgery 15:05 Iranian opposition group: Tehran accelerated nuclear program 17:24 Underworld figure's son turns himself in to police after months in hiding Previous Editions Select Day 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb

Special Offers Advertisement 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved