Ashkenazi takes over as IDF chief, says army ready to implement Lebanon war lessons
Ashkenazi takes over as IDF chief from Dan Halutz, who quit due to criticism over second Lebanon war.
By Haaretz StaffLieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi took over as the 19th Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Wednesday morning, replacing Dan Halutz. Ashkenazi said during the handover ceremony that the IDF is ready to implement the lessons of the second Lebanon war.
The handover ceremony at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem was attended by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz, IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Moshe Kaplinsky, former IDF chief of staff Moshe Ya'alon, as well as lawmakers and public figures.
Halutz resigned in January following widespread criticism of his handling of the second Lebanon war last summer.
Ashkenazi said he "feels like the cantor during Yom Kippur prayers, excited and flustered and aware of how great the responsibility is."
The new IDF chief said the army must now turn its attention to making itself better, saying IDF soldiers in Lebanon proved their valor and devotion to the mission, and that these values must be preserved as well as necessary improvements made.
"The IDF is a people's army, and it must be preserved as such," added Ashkenazi.
Speaking at the ceremony, Peretz praised Ashkenazi, saying: "You are endowed... with professional excellence."
"There is no responsibility greater than that which is now placed on your soldiers," continued the defense minister.
"There is no honor higher than commanding the Israel Defense Forces, but it will not leave you one day of grace, because the tasks are urgent and pressing and essential like no others."
Speaking at the ceremony Wednesday, Halutz said that his one regret was that he had not managed to secure the release of the three captured IDF soldiers - Gilad Shalit who has been held by Palestinian militants in Gaza since June, and Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, whose July 12 abduction by Hezbollah sparked the summer war.
Halutz admitted that during the second Lebanon war, "along with successes in the fighting, mistakes were made, on my part as well."
"As I understand my responsibility, I fulfilled it, I asked the prime minister to end my service," continued Halutz. "Responsibility is not blame. The culture of discourse, inflammatory statements, and leaks as the expression of the concept of responsibility is a destructive culture."
Halutz said that if the IDF wanted to maintain and develop high-quality officers, they must be allowed to make mistakes. "Responsibility has many faces, among them the possibility to err," he said. "If we want good people to continue and tie their fate to the IDF, we must be patient and tolerant of their mistakes as well, given that they are reasonable."
The outgoing IDF chief added that the army has completed its inquiries into the war, saying "I now wonder about the national inquiry."
Olmert also praised Halutz, with the prime minister saying that the second Lebanon war yielded many achievements, and dramatically changed the security situation in the north.
The prime minister praised Halutz's decision to "see through the inquiries into the war to the end," calling Halutz an "example of responsibility and integrity."
"History will return what the public atmosphere was taken from you," Olmert told Halutz. "The circumstances that led you to resign, cannot diminish any of your virtues, achievements, and personal contribution to the security of the country."
Addressing the country's citizens, Olmert added: "Let's not lend a hand to those who wish to turn the IDF into a punching bag."
Additional ceremonies will be held throughout the day Wednesday to mark the handover.
Ashkenazi was drafted in 1972 to the "Golani" infantry brigade, where he served both in the 1973 Yom Kippur War and the 1976 Entebbe rescue operation. In 1987 he was appointed commander of the Golani brigade, and in 1998 appointed GOC Northern Command, where he oversaw the final years of Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon and the withdrawal of IDF troops in May 2000.
In 2002, Ashkenazi was appointed deputy chief of staff, and retired in 2005 after being passed up for the position of IDF chief.
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Gabi Ashkenazi speaking Wednesday after officially taking over as Israel Defense Forces chief of staff at a handover ceremony Wednesday in Jerusalem. (Channel 1) |
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Hey man from Germany.. and you think you can give remedy to people in Lebanon!!!! Hehe IDF will never win a single war ever after. Read history well, resistence movements all around the world have never died or never has there been any mighty force to overun them and if it does, they will survive to go back again to resistence!!! Some examples will help you understand what I mean: Cuba, Vietnam, France, Stalingrad, Beirut, South Lebanon,.... For God's sake stop hallucinating about winning wars. The best IDF can do is bombard innocent civilians from the skies.... Once the ground troops are sent in, they will return in body bags.... Just keep this in mind: People lie, History does not!!!!
about time they made a Golanchik Ramatkal!
""The IDF is a people's army, and it must be preserved as such," -- Gabi Ashkenazi Responsibility has many faces, among them the possibility to err. If we want good people to continue and tie their fate to the IDF, we must be patient and tolerant of their mistakes as well, given that they are reasonable." - ibid General Ashkenazi is talking sense. The IDF has a long history of learning - fast - from it's mistakes. It appears he fully undestands the need to acknowledge error, and seek solutions.
Even in his last words of wisdom(he thought)halutz remains the same arrogant stuck up person.He tries to shift blame where his show of was his downfall.Anisraeli officer is with his troops shouting come with me and not in the airconditioned affice as halutz tried to run the war.Learn from great generals -sharon,etc.Good riddance to this arrogance and hope that future leaders have also learnt thier lesson.Lead from the front and not from the office.Askhenasie knows that he will be with the troops.good luck to him.He does not have the sick arrogance of a show off.
"The prime minister praised Halutz's decision to "see through the inquiries into the war to the end," calling Halutz an "example of responsibility and integrity."" Whatever failings he may have had, Halutz proved his integrity in the months after the war, unlike certain politicians.
the brown beret coordinates nicely with the brown epaulets, very dashing. the paratroops wear a red beret. where did you get the idea that it is pink?
War is a very tough business, the stuff nightmares are made of. It is difficult being a military man, especially one who leads others into battle. I respect the courage of all military people. A strong military has always been necessary in our world. Good luck to you, Lt. General Ashkenazi. Harry
That funny little fat man with his turban and his ring and his lisp think that because they survived they won. They provided an object lesson to our army, for which we thank them.
Gabi Ashkenasi certainly looks the part; a bit like arnold Schwarzzenegger. I don't think a brown beret is very cool though. He should check out the IDF surplus store online - they have a complete range of headgear, all at reaonable prices. Although I'm still puzzled why they issue paratroops with pink berets; really uncool...
Bye bye Dan. Your recent behavior as well as your arrogance is an insult to the IDF. You got what you deserved. Cry baby.
The last lebanon war demonstrated that IAF acted perfectly. It means that contribution of General Halutz into effectiveness of IAF is tremendous. We should tell him: Toda, Ramatkal Dan Halutz. Behatzlacha, Rav Aluf Dan Halutz. IAF are awaiting for you. Buona Fortuna (Good Luck).
that peaked cap halutz has on has got to go. it's too small and looks as ridiculous as the russian's oversized military peaked caps. the beret on ashkenazi is snappy, though.
hands were dirtied by gaza and then the war which was a series blunders, and most of all he had arrogance... good riddance and lets pray the next guy knows exactly what he's doing!
lesson.
Ashkenazi is a great warrior, proven to be a patriot, proven in battle and a great example for our soldiers to follow!
Warrior, the difference between you and Israels soldiers is that you call yourself a warrior and hide behind women and children, The IDF calls themselves a human army and avoid your women and children and wait for you at the the right time. Humanity and integrity always wins in the end. Hate never endures and your hate will be met with major disappointment.
Self-proclaimed defenders, you should add. Whoever has the gall and arrogance to proclaim such nonsense cannot hope to survive in the 21st century. Primitivity at its best.
and thank you , Dan Halutz, rav todot!
...drive you out from that place of spiritual disease made up by yourself and your comrades but life....lo, it's always closer as you may think. A certain mass of religious stirred up people and their blind shepherds do not make God. General Ashkenazi and his staff will make a good physician for your disease having learnt you hiding behind children and women and not your mighty God to wage war.
May Hashem look upon you with favor, may He lead the way, may he endow you with wisdom and courage, with modesty and with pride in your soldiers and country. May Hashem bless Israel, her army, her people, her leaders, and may He bless Israel's friends. May Hashem bring peace and may those who are offered peace be worthy of such munificence.
Ah "Warrior", as far as mortals go, there is no doubt that Israel has the best of the best defending us. Thank God that He has bestowed the IDF on us.
Dan Halutz (b'hatzlaha, gabi ashkenazi, v'todah, dan halutz).
no matter who you put in charge of your war machine....you will never be more powerful than God and his defenders. Hizballah will defeat you over and over again.
Wow, it was interesting to observe on TV all the types of hugging and kissing that went on between everyone after the ceremony. At any rate, there was absolutely no lip to lip (or tongue) contact in evidence. Although at one point our new Chief of Staff did wipe off his cheek.....
Haaretz Quote " "The hardest situation for a pilot is when your number-two shoots you in the back," Halutz said, , , It is easier to fight an enemy than to face undeserved , harsh criticism from the loved ones at home , , , Higfh to the sky Halutz fly , focused at the mission smiling back at the midgets below :)
Doesn't matter :), the flagstaff rehabilitate , improve and empower Tzahal , wave and brandish defensive , protector David 6 stars flag high to the flagpole, , , with United Israel Nation blessings ,strengh and success with honor , to the challenges ahead , proceed you may ......