Netanyahu aide likely to pay price for 'secret' Russia trip
Sacrificing the PM's military secretary is expected to put an end to the rumor mill surrounding the visit.
By Amos Harel Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu Iran Israel news IDFAt least one person will pay the price for the fiasco of the prime minister's visit to Russia: Maj. Gen. Meir Kalifi, Benjamin Netanyahu's military secretary. It isn't that Kalifi is free of blame in this story, but it seems that the speed with which he was identified as the near sole person responsible for the embarrassment was meant to spare others responsible, including Netanyahu, his political adviser, Uzi Arad, and his media adviser, Nir Hefetz, from any blame.
Sacrificing the military secretary, who lacks political support or any personal commitment from Netanyahu (having been appointed to the post during the tenure of Ehud Olmert), is not particularly media savvy and whose military career is in any case close to its end, is expected to put an end to the rumor mill surrounding the sensitive nature of the visit, and the failed effort to keep it a secret.
No less important, it may temporarily contain the infighting at the Prime Minister's Bureau, among those who are battling for Netanyahu's graces: Arad vs. Hefetz, and government secretary Zvi Hauser.
Thursday there were already rumors that Kalifi had prepared a letter of resignation. The officer, responding to Haaretz, denied the rumor. But there is no doubt that he is furious at the way he has been treated.
The story had already appeared in the press Thursday: Netanyahu and Arad kept Hefetz in the dark on the planned visit. The Prime Minister's disappearance on Monday stirred a wave of rumors and reporters called on Netanyahu's media adviser, who admitted he did not know. Later, Hefetz issued a false announcement, which was, unusually, made under Kalifi's name, claiming that Netanyahu was in a security related facility.
It was reported that Hefetz at that time still had no idea where Netanyahu was. Kalifi was also not in Russia.
The newspapers wrote Thursday that Kalifi was behind the announcement, and that he knew where Netanyahu was. He was quoted as having said that "for state security one may sometimes not tell the whole truth." At the same time someone recommended to the reporters to turn to the IDF, and ask the chief of staff whether he planned to reprimand Kalifi (the answer, as far as we know, is negative).
Those who spoke with Kalifi Thursday heard a different version of events than the one published in the media. Accordingly, he did not know that the false statement on Netanyahu's whereabouts was being issued under his name to the media. Only in retrospect did the military secretary comprehend the trap that had been set for him and its implications: the whole affair was blamed on him and he was made to appear to be a liar.
Kalifi's future in the IDF had been limited in any case. The chief of staff had skipped him over when he made the appointments for commander of ground forces and GOC Central Command.
Under the current circumstances and the stain that has been smeared on him it is hard to imagine Kalifi surviving much longer at the Prime Minister's Bureau.
Kalifi is the man whom the IDF sent to the front, during two sad incidents in the Gaza Strip: the death of seven members of the Ghalia family in 2006 from a blast on the Gaza beach, and the killing of 18 Palestinians by IDF artillery in Beit Hanoun. He is the man who investigated the incidents, and presented the conclusions to the media.
In both cases the IDF came out with minor damage. His willingness to deceive in the name of security this week has shed some doubt also on his statements in the past.
Missile crisis
One of the main issues that, according to reports, was apparently on Netanyahu's agenda in Russia was the S-300 air defense missile deal with Iran. Initial reports on Moscow's intention to deliver the advanced missiles to Iran were published seven years ago.
Since then, the deal has been placed on hold: it seems that the Russians promised to sell the equipment to Iran, but did not say when. Israel would very much like to see the deal stopped, or at least delayed, because the delivery of this system would substantially improve Iran's ability to defend its nuclear installations against an air strike. It is for this reason that Israel agreed to Russia's request that it cease to sell weapons to Georgia.
However, the Russian position is not unequivocal, and Moscow has not stopped from hinting that it intends to go through with the deal.
One of the Russian claims is that selling advanced air defense systems to countries like Iran and Syria actually contributes to stability in the Middle East because it dissuades Israel from any offensive adventurism. Russia and Iran continue to have clandestine exchanges in matters that give Israel cause to suspect that Moscow is playing both sides.
Another option is that Moscow considers the possibility of selling advanced air defense systems to Iran as a way of bargaining with the West over U.S. plans to deploy an anti-missile system in Poland and the Czech Republic.
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The result for Israel was very good. Be grateful. Who cares about the details?
In this type of incident, there are no true stories, only stories and theories of stories.
"The Prime Minister is voted in democratically to make decisions on behalf of the population." - Baruch, from exile Israelis are mostly happy with the system they have, and agree it is 'democratic.' This, I would say, is the definition of a 'democratic' system. That the people are happy that it represents their will. What passes for 'democracy' in one nation might not in any other. What matters is that it is accepted by the people of that nation. Thus, Mr. Benyamin Netanyahu has been 'elected' Prime Minister. It does not matter that he was selected by the members of a party list he devised. Folks voted for those he picked, and they picked him. There is no one who can argue with the FACT he was chosen by Israelis in their own fashion. And thus my observations about Bibi, his policies, and the current government are valid to the extent that they apply to him. And he is, by their own methods, the choice of Israelis. The Netanyahu government, for now, IS Israel.
Or is that a void voice? "do you really live in Houston?" - a void voice Yes, a 6605 Neff Street. In the past I have also posted my Republican National Committee number and Republican Party of Texas number. And you? where is void "Why is your interest in Israel so overwhelming that you choose to write and criticize so far away.?" - vapid voice I became interested in Israel when I discovered it existed during the Sinai Crisis of 1956. "Your obvious slant against the right and Israel indicate you are quite distant from the state and your people." - voce invacuo And when did Israel stop being a socialist state and become a right-wing paradise? It was a 'socialist state' well into the 1970s, and is still far to the left of the USA. Fag bashing is disapproved of by most Israelis and an act of faith by the Republicans here. " would love to know your JewIQ, , , " - voce non compose mentis What is your IQ? Wechler, Binet, or are you the clapper on the bell shaped curve?
- - - - I am the lord of Hosts, I do declare these things, heavenly forever, as being eternally true, as it shall always be true, as true of me (god), as forever certain -- forever, saith god -- HOLY FOREVER. Updated and revised today 9-11-2009AD . 3 Hear the word of the lord O Israel E-782-RW - W / 20 vs. 1 As concerning Israel making agreements with foreign nationalities who are found living on Israeli biblical land. - 2 Have ya O Israel, not heard, thou shalt make no agreements with those foreign nations who are found forever on Israeli biblical land? - 3 Ye shall make no agreements with them, least I (god) punish thee (Israel). And ye (Israel) shall go and obtain all land that is found according to my (god) historical oath with you (Israel). - 4 Even as it is found recorded between me (god) and Abraham thy fore father, eternally forever and ever seen, sath god -- HOLY FOREVER. - 5 Remember, make no covenants, nor agreements with them (the heathen), least I (god) turn upon thee (Israel) and smite thee (Israel) with my (god) hand, as thou (Israel) art found: - 6 ?As found unto me (god) as being disobedient to me (god) in regards as being found sinful against our agreement?. That agreement is made between me (god) and thee (Israel). And is found through Abraham thy fore father as being eternally forever and ever seen -- of me forever. - 7 If, thou (Israel) shalt make such unrepentiful true sinfulness against me (god)), as it would be found forever in making covenants against my (god) eternal seen promise that I have forever with Abraham thy fore father. - 8 Then, those that would desire thy (Israel) death and true destruction. They (the heathen) shall snare thee (Israel) and chase thee (Israel) and remove thee (Israel) in parts of thy land, until: Thou (Israel) can?t run and hide from my (god) oath, any longer and forever. - 9 And then, thou O Israel. Thou shalt turn unto me (god) with all of thy seen to me (god), true heart, forever. And I (god) will, set thee, then forever, - 10 As forever set into all of thy (Israel) biblical true land of promise, that is found unto thee (Israel) from me eternally forever. - 11 And that faithful true promise of me forever. It is found unto thee forever, as it is given of me (god) unto you (Israel), eternally forever and ever seen, and true, forever. - 12 Therefore, ye (Israel) shall not break my (god) word, as it is found recorded in the christian bible, as being Exodus 23:32. - - 13 - 14 - 15 23:32 Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. - 16 23:33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee. - - 17 Those things, O Israel. They are eternally found true, as true between me (god) and thee (Israel), forever kind. And they are true, as I (god) have declared them true unto thee (Israel), forever. - 18 And those kindly things, that are spoken of old and of now. All of those things, they are all spoken unto thee, and are spoken even unto thee, in this generation, and forever. - 19 And I (god) do declare those things forever, as being eternally true as I am true forever, as saith me (god), eternally forever and ever kind. -- ------------- 20 E-783RW 9-10-2009AD / roger Wallace author / roger dale Wallace author / Washington post / haaretz / wordpress / blogger / end time prophecy / prophecy / Christianity / a prophecy for pope Benedict XVI / oral Roberts / benny hinn / Infolive / ynet / The judgment of the nations by roger dale Wallace / The god of truth by roger dale Wallace / thevillagecarpenter.info / The god of truth ISBN 978-1-60585-521-9 - - - -
Lets not talk about IQ,i think it is best. You say in a democracy people get the government that it deserve,you also always said that Hamas are democrats,so the Palestinians deserves it.Hitler won a democratic election,so the Germans deserved it,and the list is long.Your democracies in Europe brought us WW1 and WW2,so Europe deserved it.
Fortunatley not many think like you.We did mind on 9/11,or if California will be bombed by NK,or the Russian,we will mind,because that would mean a lot of dead people,and that always sad,ALWAYS!!Your comment saying all about you,and you speaking on behalf of Obama is a joke,a bad one.
... since the establishment of the State of Israel, it has been claimed that "Israel is facing a threat greater than any she has seen since her re-establishment..." This has been a cover-up for all sorts of iniquities, including the settler enterprise...
He wants to go at Iran and they are playing with him....The Russians have done this on purpose... Sneaking up....Will not happen...too many do not like Israel..and Bibi.. you are perfect stooge to play with... Bibi..All the guys you think are your friends.. Like Mubarak..The little king..Abdalla..Th big Abdalla....in Saudi..and the rest whom you may think like you..ARE all CHEERING up for you and HOPE you get the BLOODY nose alone.. With all this..I still say..It is worth trying and go at Iran...For sure ONLY will good things happen..The geography of the region will change and Israel will come down to size and will have to live in Peace....NO OTHER CHOICE....
on behalf of the population. What is wrong with those who know acting accordingly. People should be understanding in times like these. Israel is facing a threat greater than any she has seen since her re-establishment. The people opposed to a nuclear Iran should be rallying around the world. With one nuclear weapon Iran will at a very minimum undermine Israel's defensive power and could pose a threat greater than Nazi Germany. If the people rally the powers that be will have a far easier job protecting the people than if they complain and cause political destabilisation. Come on public, you are better than this. Do not get drawn into a left/right power struggle when we are threatened with annihilation, help the government, don't hinder it. When we are safe you can worry about minor disputes.
and the calibre of it's politicians means that Maj. Gen. Meir Kalifi, can be sacked today with great fanfare. Showing the Israeli people that they are listened to (they are not) and thay they can trust us (they shouldn't) and we are capable of leading Israel into the 21st centrury (they can't punch their way out of a paper bag). Then he will be rehired on Monday because he is the best of a bad crop. So did Netanyahu go to Russia or not (Putin says he didn't) and in which case where did he go? Has he met the Iranian leadership in an attempt to make a deal? In which case don't the Israeli people who he represents have a right to know? Or was he buying a villa for his wife for her birthday at public expense. (Wouldn't be the first time he got caought with his hand in the cookie jar would it). And when Iran goes nuclear people will be leaving Israel in their droves anyway, wouldn't surprise me if Netanyahu is one of them. Afterall where did he spend Lebanon2
russia's claim that selling S-300 missile defense systems to iran and syria would contribute to stability in the region is one of total cynisim. russia knows full well that were it not for its military aid to iran and syria there would have been no war in lebanon in 2006. russia also knows full well that its help in developing iran's heavy water reactor is an intolerable distabalising act in the middle east. russia also knows full well that the only rational way to stop iran from going nuclear is a very strong concerted effort by the international community. however, russia's aim is to weaken the united states in the region. russia will risk a conflagrassion in the region in order to achieve this goal. russia just might succeed while the obama administration is playing being citizen of the world. obama wanted a mulripolar world, and he will most certainly achieve his goal. the price for all of this cynicism will be paid by israel alone.
so he took a secret trip to russia and told no one.and?
....the IQ of the average Israeli voter. Remember: In a democracy a people will always get the governement that it deserves.... ....sorry, my Israeli friends, but I'm afraid there is simply no exception to that rule...:)
do you really live in Houston? Why is your interest in Israel so overwhelming that you choose to write and criticize so far away. Your obvious slant against the right and Israel indicate you are quite distant from the state and your people. I would love to know your JewIQ based on Jewish education, Jewish observance, Jewish roots (women's side only, sorry) and current family life status. this could explain everything. In the meantime, keep writing the same boring condemnations and don't ever try to adjust your harddrive with vital updates to your life and understanding of Jewish reality. If you are not Jewish, then you wouldn't understand any of this anyway, so just keep busy with your Houston monologues. ho hummmm.
Lou, your appraisal of the mideast is slightly looney. Israel has a right to defend itself when it is being threatened. If you can compare Iran, with its history of wars and massive destruction of life against its enemies, with Israel who has been defending herself since birth, you bring dishonor to honesty and fairness. If you don't take threats against Jews & Israel seriously, you are lu-lu land, almost assimilated beyond mental and physical recognition as a Jew, if you really are one. It seems quite doubtful. Jews are connected....your phone is off the hook!
"Eventually there should be a nuclear response. No one will mind. I won`t. Neither will my President." President Obama wouldn't mind if there was a nuclear war between Israel and Iran. Very astute observation of American politics and diplomacy. [irony]
let's find a sacrificial goat and get the focus off of Bibi. Renting a private jet, scurrying off to moscow, denying it, leaking it, spinning it, and grandstanding is vintage Bibi. The real problem is not russian duplicity, Iranian desire for rockets, but Israel's continuance of a policy of annexing territory thru building which jeoprodizes the future, one sidedly. Bibi has to change course, and like Begin and Sharon before him, relinquich lands captured in war, and comply with international and jewish law. A viable Israel depends on it's adherence to morality and truth, and not stealing Arab land with the false sanction of duplicitious religious and nationalist extremists. The Arabs are wrong to deny Israel's existence, but two wrongs don't make a right. Bibi must change his stripes Now or be consigned to the rogues gallery of history with those others who had an opportunity but missed it..
Once upon a time, in an age when honesty and accuracy mattered more than political spin, Israel had competent and effective intelligence agencies. But competence and accuracy are not considered important in Israel anymore, rather political compliance and moral flexibility are now what the leaders of Israel value. Russia has not chosen to embarrass Israel with the recent fiasco. The difference between Somalian and Israeli pirates is clear. The Somalian Pirates do god homework and have a clue about what is on the ships they seize. Israeli pirates just say what they think the PM wants to hear, and fulfill his every fantasy. So when will the guilty parties be fired? given the incredible number of fiascos Israel has had to play coy about in recent years, isn't anyone in the nation concerned about the endless succession of intelligence fiascos?
How many fugg ups can a single clown take the fall for?
...at least for people who read and comprehend such things. Your report did not have the usual short memory that so many others have. You included the tenuous understanding that Russia would hold up the s-300's for a suspension of weapons to Georgia (although that deal had been made before Georgia foolishly invaded South Ossetia.) And you included the doubts raised about the Israeli Navy shelling the Gaza beach and Beit Hanoun. But most of all you included the fact that the Russians consider the sale of the S-300 missile defense systems to Iran as a defensive weapon that would actually dissuade Israel from making a terrible mistake that would likely result in horrible damage to Israel as well as the world's economy; or worse if Israel unleashed its undeclared nukes. I don't think the idea of Russia blackmailing the US over the anti-missile sites will go anywhere however.
1.When in stalemate, there is no good move from human leaders and therefore get ready for more blunders from kings, presidents, prime ministers and popes. 2.As foretold in the Gospel, present leaders, no matter how great, intelligent, famous, educated, religious, pure, pious or sweet-talking, will not have the right food for the hungry, angry, weary, sick, lame, blind, dumb, deft and cynical multitude. 3.The predicted provider of the correct food is a small but well-trained shepherd boy mahdi with the Moshiachs Meal of Five Loaves and Two Fish. This boy will also have what present leaders do not have today: efficiency, credibility, and authority. 4.There is only good move for leaders: give up looking for a solution because they have none and then find the little child. 5.Isaiah 11:6, The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
the cat is russia with israel being the mouse, israel and america have interfered too much, russia and china are getting quite sick of all the lies, and so am i.
Do the Israelis want to start another war? Without paying a price? Iran is entitled to nuclear technology under the NPT. The making of a nuke is a no no, although the Jews already have quite a few. 150 or so according to ex-President Jimmy Carter. Let the crazies attack Iran. Eventually there should be a nuclear response. No one will mind. I won't. Neither will my President. Salaam/Shalom