Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., August 04, 2008 Av 3, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:32 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

President gets first-ever Druze military aide By Anshel Pfeffer Tags: Israel, Druze, Shimon Peres Israel Defense Forces Colonel Hasson Hasson on Tuesday became the first Druze appointed aide-de-camp to an Israeli president. At a ceremony Tuesday, President Shimon Peres described the role as one of "the most delicate, sensitive, and difficult in Israel." Hasson, who will be promoted to the rank of brigadier general next week, is replacing Brigadier General Shimon Hefetz, who spent 15 years as military adjutant to presidents Ezer Weizman, Moshe Katsav and Peres. Hefetz's career was largely spent in General Staff positions, and as military aide to defense ministers. Advertisement "[My job will be] to bring all of the tools necessary to the president that are very highly sensitive, both in terms of content and in working with all of the defense entities," said Hasson. "During the training period I had before the posting, I saw the tremendous contribution this liaison role makes, in matters that are hidden from the public eye." Hasson has spent his career in intelligence, and President's Residence officials said he was chosen by IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenzai to give Peres maximum access to intelligence materials. Hasson will serve as a conduit between the defense establishment and Peres, who is far more involved than previous presidents in the most sensitive strategic discussions. The aide-de-camp is the president's liaison to the heads of the IDF, Mossad, Shin Bet security service and Israel Atomic Energy Commission. As a former prime minister and the founder of Israel's nuclear program in the mid-1950s, Peres maintains regular contact - beyond ordinary presidential briefings - with the heads of intelligence agencies, who meet with him every two weeks to update him on developments concerning Iran and consult with him, according to sources at the President's Residence. Peres also meets with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for a weekly briefing. Before he became president, Peres - along with Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak - was a member of the prime ministers forum convened by Olmert to discuss Iran's nuclear plans. Hasson's new job builds on a long-time intelligence career, many of the details of which are still classified. Hasson was born 45 years ago in Daliat al-Carmel, where he still lives. He began his military career in the Golani Brigade, where he became a company commander and then a platoon commander at the officers training school. From there he moved to Military Intelligence. During the first intifada, Hasson served as a special operations officer in the IDF's Judea and Samaria Division, and held a senior post in the counterterror headquarters at the Prime Minister's Office between 2001 and 2004. Hasson has a law degree and a master's degree in political science, and is a graduate of Israel's National Security College. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Facing off in Gaza Bitter infighting in Gaza may bode ill for Israel's truce with Hamas. Syria's frequent flyer Assad went to Iran to explain rather than excuse peace talks with Israel.   1.   mazel Tov 06:04  |  Aussie Eli 02/07/08   2.   Toz w tozzayn kamen (President gets first Druze military aide) 06:35  |  Aounist 02/07/08   3.   Druze easily bought.....Cheap.. 07:18  |  ali 02/07/08   4.   ali you are so wrong you misunderstand so much so always lose 07:58  |  ralph 02/07/08   5.   ali you are so wrong you misunderstand so much so always lose 07:58  |  ralph 02/07/08   6.   ALI Your" inside knowledge" of the IDF comes from? 08:24  |  PETER SM 02/07/08   7.   First ever Druze military aide to President. 11:04  |  David Nigel Braham 02/07/08   8.   Druze 11:20  |  nasreen 02/07/08   9.   nasreen 12:16  |  ClearCut 02/07/08   10.   are druze muslims or jews? 12:28  |  guess whom? 02/07/08   11.   # 6....Mr. SM...PETER...Inside Knowledge??? 13:55  |  ali 02/07/08

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