Amos Gilad reinstated as Gaza truce envoy after apologizing to Olmert

Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will return Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad, who heads the diplomatic security bureau of the Defense Ministry, to his post as envoy to talks being held in Egypt over a Gaza cease-fire. Olmert will also withdraw the complaint he filed with the Civil Service Commission against Gilad.

Gilad apologized to Olmert yesterday, saying he regretted his criticism of the prime minister in Maariv a week ago. On Tuesday Gilad asked for a meeting with Olmert and the two met alone yesterday afternoon at the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem for half an hour. After apologizing, Gilad gave Olmert a letter, including an apology.

"The things I said were not justified, were mistaken and it would have been better if they had never been said," wrote Gilad.

Olmert then presented Gilad with a letter of his own, saying he appreciated Gilad's many years of devoted service to the country. "I hope to act to end the affair immediately," the letter read.

Gilad will return to dealing with the negotiations with Egyptians alongside Olmert adviser Shalom Turjeman, Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin and Ofer Dekel, the special representative for handling the talks on abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.

Olmert removed Gilad from his post as the envoy to the Cairo talks on Sunday after Gilad refused to apologize for his criticism of Olmert and the government.

The meeting between Olmert and Gilad came after Gilad realized it would be better to end the affair quickly, even if he was forced to apologize. It was preceded by days of contacts between Gilad and the Prime Minister's Bureau.

Olmert had filed an official complaint with the Civil Service Commission, saying Gilad as a senior public official criticized the prime minister and his staff inappropriately, which is a disciplinary infraction.

The commotion surrounding Gilad's statements significantly delayed the Cairo cease-fire talks, and as of yesterday it was still unclear when Gilad would return to Egypt.

A senior defense source said Olmert would have found it difficult to conduct the talks with the team he appointed instead of Gilad: Dekel, Diskin and Turjeman; and that Gilad was essential to completing the negotiations.