Netanyahu to IDF: Focus on Israel's security, not Galant affair
Prime Minister calls on Israel's defense establishment to stop focusing on document that sparked a row over appointment of the next IDF chief of staff.
By Barak Ravid and Haaretz Service Tags: Israel news Galant Benjamin Netanyahu IDFPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday called on Israel's defense establishment to stop focusing on the document that sparked a row over the appointment of the next Israel Defense Forces chief of staff.
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IDF Chief of Staff Ashkenazi and Prime Minister Netanyahu |
| Photo by: Eran Yuffie Cohen |
"The IDF top brass must stop dealing with this investigation," Netanyahu said in a statement, his first public reaction to the affair. "I expect the security and military elite to continue working together and cooperating for the sake of Israel's security."
The document, which was exposed on Channel 2 news on August 6, features the logo of Arad Communications, and is said to outline a public relations campaign for GOC Southern Command Yoav Galant, who is among the candidates to succeed IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi.
Police now believe the document was forged, as part of a plot involving current and retired senior IDF officers to influence the appointment.
Netanyahu met earlier Wednesday with Defense Minister Ehud Barak to discuss the apparent tension between him and Ashkenazi.
The premier urged Barak to work quickly to defuse the tension, so as not to allow their unstable relationship affect the security of Israel.
Netanyahu also spoke with Ashkenazi by telephone to relay a similar message, and the two are expected to meet in person in the coming days.
The prime minister also spoke with Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to ask him to accelerate the police investigation into the document.
Ashkenazi earlier on Wednesday made his first public remarks regarding the document, saying he trusts that authorities will bring the truth to light.
His comments came just hours after the chairman of the Knesset's security committee called for an emergency session to debate the growing storm over the race for the post of IDF chief amid allegations of forgery and smear tactics among top brass.
While Ashkenazi is not suspected of any criminal offense, he has come under fire for failing to hand immediately to police a document that seems to suggest a conspiracy to cause a rift between him and Barak.
Dozens of people have given statements to police in connection to the affair. Investigators are expected to begin questioning suspects under caution.
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You would think that the appointment of Chief of Staff would be a strictly professional matter. But as we see in the "Galant" case and a number of previous such appointments, candidates tend to use PR techniques, selling themselves and trying to undermine rivals. It seems that the basic problem is in the excessive militarization of the Israeli political system. A chief of Staff becomes a potential political leader after retiring from the IDF. The candidates know that, and were preparing for this for years, including the development of a media-friendly image among journalists and other PR gimmicks, and acting militarily according to the needs for a positive image rather than militay needs. It becomes worthwhile for Economic Interests as well as Pollsters and Public Relations experts to "invest" in the promotion of a potential "friend" to that military position. Such PR activities are simply not known in the rest of the West, where Generals do not get automatically involved in political activities. The present circus should be a wakeup call. Military leaders tended to fail as political leaders: 1. Rabin in his first term (1974-7) was a failure, replaced by Likud, and waited 15 years for a second chance. 2. Sharon was forced to resign (1982) after Sabra-Chatilla, and waited 17 years for a second chance. 3. Barak lost as PM after less than 2 years (2001) and is still dreaming of his "second coming". Something is rotten in the State of Israel.
I am willing to believe that Ashkenazi thought the document was genuine, and represented a plot by Galant to become the next Chief of Staff. It makes sense that Ashkenazi did not share the secret with Barak, who is supportive of Galant and might have suppressed the news from ever going forward or doing something to cast doubt on its veracity. (Barak is a talented plotter himself.) Just sitting on the secret would not have helped Ashkenazi in any way, knowing that he is actually in favor of Eizenkot's candidacy. A possible explanation is that Ashkenazi is the one responsible for leaking the document to the press. He may have done it himself, or through a trusted intermediary. In any case, it is good the affair was made public. The IDF needs to be cleaned up morally and ethically, and this is a good opportunity.