Peretz: I acted out of love for my country during Second Lebanon War
MKs step up calls for Olmert, Peretz to quit following release of testimonies to panel probing conduct of war.
By Haaretz Service and Shahar IlanDefense Minister Amir Peretz, speaking following the release of his testimony to the panel probing the conduct of the Second Lebanon War, said Thursday that he had acted in good faith during the conflict.
"I did my job out of belief, out of love for my country," he told a Labor Party conference in Tel Aviv. "Every public figure has to deal with the missions of national importance bestowed upon him."
Peretz said that should he win the upcoming Labor leadership race, he intends to demand that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert put him in the Finance Ministry.
He also told the conference that he opposes calls for Labor to quit the government or any attempt to replace the prime minister. He said that Labor could try to dictate who runs the Kadima party, but must refrain from doing so.
The publication of the testimonies of Olmert, Peretz and former military chief of staff Dan Halutz to the Winograd Committee has prompted more calls from Israel's upper political echelons for Olmert and Peretz to resign.
Zevulun Orlev, chairman of religious coalition Ichud Leumi and Mafdal, said "It is no wonder Olmert didn't want his testimony published earlier. He clearly doesn't take any responsibility for the war, and tries to lay all the blame on the army."
Orlev continued: "The prime minister didn't fulfill his role as a leader. If he wasn't able to take charge during the war, he should now acknowledge his failure and resign."
MK Zehava Gal-On of social democratic party Meretz-Yachad, who petitioned the High Court to release the testimonies earlier, stressed their significance again on Thursday.
"The content of the testimonies clearly illustrates the necessity of transparency and the public's right to know," she said. "The whole truth has finally emerged from the leaders' contradictory versions of it. Now they are trying to blame their failures on each other," she added,
"Up until today, we have only heard leaked information that serves the prime minister's interests. My greatest hope is that the release of the testimonies will mean Olmert and Peretz get sent home faster."
MK Dov Khenin of Hadash said the testimonies of the three "paint a picture of chaotic leadership."
"The government thought it could build its reputation by waging a war on Lebanon, only to learn that wars don't build leaders, they just kill soldiers," Khenin continued. "They are now paying the price for their arrogance," he said.
Likud MK Limor Livnat criticized Olmert and Peretz severely, saying the IDF fought bravely despite receiving "confused, hasty and irresponsible orders which had not been thought through."
MK Livnat said that even before the testimonies were released, it was clear that the upper echelons of Israel's leadership were trying to conceal their responsibility for the failure of the Second Lebanon War by blaming the military.
"The release of the testimonies shows once and for all that Olmert and Peretz shamelessly flung the blame on the IDF's soldiers and officers. It is now upon them to hand over control to responsible, serious leaders", Livnat said.
Olmert did find some support from his fellow Kadima party members. Knesset Constitution Committee Chairman MK Menachem Ben-Sasson defended the prime minister and said that "his testimony proves that he acted with a strategic eye on the future and gave the military forces focused and specific missions".
"The prime minister asked Halutz if he had raised the level of alertness in the North after the Gilad Shalit kidnapping. The army chief answered him affirmatively, and said that the northern border is prepared for an attempted kidnapping", Ben Sasson added.
Kadima MK Yoel Hasson said that "the prime minister's testimony proves that he had many misgivings which led to consultations and preparations, before he made his decisions". According to Hasson, " this testimony contradicts the claims, which have come mostly from the opposition, that the prime minister made decisions in haste and bad judgment.
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MK Zehava Gal-On: 'The leaders are trying to blame their failures on each other.' (Archive / BauBau) |
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to pertz if love means to you causing 150 jews to be killed then please give ALL YOUR DEAR LOVE TO OUR ENEMIES and leave us here alnone but go go quickly we cant afford more of the kind of love that you have!!!!
also required to win. love is never enough.
I am sorry to have to inform the puplic , we are all wrong , and the winograd report faild. The secret agenda was to make so many bad desisions that natsralla would eventuly get so frustrated that he would hang himself. (Peretz logic.)
Peretz may know nothing about military matters. However, he knows two things as well as anyone else. Firstly, the D.M. post is of incalculable importance to Israel. Secondly, he has not had a day of military experience. These two factors absolutely disqualify Peretz from being D.M. If he loved Israel, he woulnd't have accepted the D.M. post.
while Kassams fell on his hometown of Sderot -- a passionate romance???? If he genuinely loves his country, he should resign now, and not wait until a Barak primary victory unceremoniously boots him out of the job. And publically call for Olmert to do the same. That would be a patriotic act that would give him a little dignity, at least.
I am certain that Mr Peretz acted out of his love of Israel. The only problem is that he had no idea what he was doing.
So Peretz acted out of love for Israel when he screwed up during the second Lebanon War. Let's see it that love is still there and if he has the guts to resign as he is unqualified and unsuited for the position of Defense Minister.
If yes please publish this post so I know.
Out of love for Peretz...please leave the scene now you still have some integrity left..
If that is true then for the love of your country quit now, so they can heal from your mistakes and move on!
Well, Simon Mohammed has a point. It's enough to see that some of the most vociferous and "authoritative" posters refer to Peretz as a member of Kadima......
It was a very difficult war..no no not for the right wingers they would freely admit they would have carpet bombed southern Lebanon to smithereens and they would be proud of that. Thats who they are.
The love of Peretz for his country should have been great enough for him to have forgone the defense ministry, turned it over to someone capable, and taken on any welfare ministry that was offered him.
Look at the lot of you, almost entirely hopeless beating up poor Peretz. You are all, almost entirely lost, hopeless unless you individually figure something out. The Messiah has the power to redeem the lowest human being on the planet. I am saying this as a person who will always stand by the Nation of Israel. But unless you individually understand the redemptive powers of the Lord you will never be able to take advantage of his miraculous healing powers to change a person into something new and thus be able to forgive. Well, I've said it and I'm through.
"Patriotism is the Last Refuge of a Scoundrel" - Dr. Johnson "Patriotism is the First Refuge of a Scoundrel" - Ambrose Bierce Peretz is trying to hide his incompetence behind the flag. That is a bit better than Olmert blaming the soldiers. But not much.
..love is blind.
this is really childish. Would any politician ever claim otherwise? Oh people of Israel: you are dumb! Olmert will not resign because Bush does not like Ntnyhu... (and by the way, because olmert loves his country too)
As long as these politicians remain in office Israel's national security and welfare remains paralyized and in peril. Hezbollah rearms, the Palestinian threat in Gaza increases, and Iran developes a nuclear bomb. Their failure to act with integrity and leave government raises the risk that the IDF will have to compel them to go, putting democracy at risk. Israel is not Turkey. The other politicians owe the public the removal of Olmert, Peretz, and Livni, and now!
For the love of God and country, leave now. If they stay longer they should be court marshaled for failing the people, an impersonating a role way beyong their capacity. Stop the damage; Give them any money they ask for if they leave now and trafer to a cave resort where they will feel at home. Please Please go away.
WELL SAID!! Could Peretz have behaved any worse? He is ignorant and power-hungry.How dare he have taken such an important, critical post such as the Defence Ministry and put the lives of our precious soldiers and civilians in danger just to satisfy his ridiculous ego!
Don't be the fall guy. If the purse strings were tight, it wasn't your fault. Come to California. You could be our next Governor.
Peretz is confusing apples and oranges. No one is calling him a traitor like Arab KM's who betrayed Israel to hezbollah. it is his incompetence that is the question and his posting as Defense Minister as a political plumb given by Olmert who is just as guilty here. Of course, Peretz should have declined the post due to his lack of experience but he accepted it and the rest is history including the dead Israelis. He should leave and return to Sderot where his presence will do more for Israeli national defense than did his being the Defense Minister.
The man Peretz has no conscence! He now wants to become FINANCE Minister.! Only pray that God will help Israel to overcome such a catastrophe......
so leave now and do us all a favour !
Question: Then why not resign?
I have no doubt that Peretz acted "out of love for his country" (not to mention his political position and power). This doesn't mean his actions were good. It doesn't mean his actions were that of a leader. Peretz, you were over your head from day one. If you love your country - resign!
your humble opinion without giving names. 1-Please list what you want them to do for you, what do you want them to acheive for you, and how, and how fast they have to go. 2- please list few names of those great leaders you want (in the past, present or the future) 3- Please state what they have done good and bad 4- please state if they escaped your betrayal and game playing. if you can't answer all those question then you are just 1- a blah blah blah person 2- you are playing one with the other. the problem you will end up playing your self. with my best friendly regard and respect
...but obviously not out of rationality or intelligence. Said like a true second hander.
and it cost us many lives and many tramatized families. he didnt get the job done.
So in Peretz's eyes you can do a lousy job in a position you had no idea what to do. You accept the position and when called to perform you fail miserably. Then you have the nerve to try to run for another job. I don't think so. Olmert,Peretz,Peres,and Livnii all failed Iisrael in the 2nd Lebanon War. The defense budget was cut and for Peretz to say he knew nothing about that would be a lie. So how can he ask to be elected to a higher position. THROW THE BUM OUT ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE KADIMA PARTY
go home!
and they are doing all in their power to avoid elections. They know full well that with new elections most will lose their seats and at worst the party will fold like Shinui. Then where will these parasites get employment - cleaning toilets at Yerushalyim`s bus station?
THE FIRST LIE IS TO YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF OFFICE !! THEN WHEN PROVEN THAT YOU ARE NOT HONOUR IS DISCARDED UNTIL FORCED OUT !! KADIMA THE SHARON INVENTION OF AWOULD BE DICTATOR STRUGGLES ON WITH NOBODIES IN CHARGE
HOW MUCH MORE DOES ONE NEED , ANOTHER CATASTROPHY ? ? ? What must the bereaved families feel when they read these articles about the proven uncapability of the PM and the minister of defence to run the country, respectively the army during the 2nd Lebanon War. Another day of unneccessary personal torture. Some 160 people were senselessly sent to their untimely death and what for ? ? ? If after all the evidence brought forward by the committee(s), the country and the MK's don't rise up now as ONE BODY and DEMAND - not prompt calls for - THE IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION of both "so called leaders", I start believing that we really DON'T DESERVE ANY BETTER and may be all held responsible as well for the further uncolorful future of this country. Such a pity, let's just have the GUTS and PRIDE to kick both out as soon as possible. Otherwise it may become like cancer, every day counts and can be fatal !