JERUSALEM - Is ousted IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon taking his first steps toward politics? Former IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon secretly met with Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Matan Vilnai (Labor) on Monday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem, Ynet
has learned.
Following the meeting between the two retired generals, Vilnai denied discussing politics and told Ynet the two have been friends for many years.
“We met many times over the years, and will do so in the future,” he said. “We are friends from the army and our conversation was a friendly and not a political one.”
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Yaalon also denied the two discussed political-related issues during their meeting.
Earlier, Yaalon met with Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra, who refused to comment on the meeting.
Politically outspoken
During his term as chief of staff, Yaalon did not hesitate to criticize his predecessor Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and was no stranger to making controversial remarks that outraged politicians from both left and right.
Yaalon left his position as IDF chief frustrated and angry with Mofaz for not renewing his term for an additional year, as is usually accepted.
In addition, he had said more than once, both behind closed doors and on several public occasions, that it was not fitting for generals to advance directly into politics without a “cooling off period.”
However, during initial interviews as a civilian, Yaalon spoke of his intent to continue his work as a public servant, such as in the field of education.
For Vilnai, who is currently in the midst of a political campaign for labor party leadership, recruiting Yaalon for his party would prove to be a satisfying boost to the minister’s ego.
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