Olmert reprimands top defense official over critical quotes to Maariv

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reprimanded Amos Gilad on Wednesday over comments he made to Maariv newspaper regarding the cease-fire deal in the works and kidnapped Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.

Gilad heads the political-security bureau at the Defense Ministry, and is the ministry's mediator with the Egyptians. He was quoted in Wednesday's paper as saying that Olmert's behavior and decision to make Shalit's release a precondition to a cease-fire is an insult to Egypt, and therefore undermines national security.

"This is crazy. It's just crazy," he was quoted as saying. "Do we really think that the Egyptians are our employees?"

Olmert called the meeting with Gilad shortly before the meeting of the political-security cabinet on Wednesday. Defense Minister Ehud Barak was also present.

Gilad complained to the daily that Olmert is not even addressing the Shalit issue.

"Have they produced any list of prisoners? All they are doing is insulting the Egyptians. At first, they relayed a list with just 70 names, that's it.... Since then, they have simply disappeared. Is this how they plan to get Gilad [Shalit] back?"

He added that Olmert and his advisers are lying when they accuse him of only partially briefing them on his meetings in Cairo.

Olmert was stern with Gilad. "What emerged in the press is audacious and rude, and violates how a civil servant should behave toward the prime minister," he said.

"This is unacceptable behavior in a properly functioning administration. You know what my attitude toward you is, and the sort of backing you have received from me, but there is no way to justify your actions, even if you think you were wronged."

Sources at the Prime Minister's Bureau said Gilad did not deny making any of the quotes to the newspaper during his meeting with Olmert.

After the meeting, Olmert informed the cabinet ministers that he had reprimanded Gilad. Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann called Gilad's behavior unacceptable. "Amos Gilad is involved in negotiations and cannot go to the press," Friedmann said.