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Photo: Hagai Aharon
Chief of Staff Dan Halutz
Photo: Hagai Aharon

Halutz suspends officer's controversial promotion

Following Ynet's report that officer who was in charge of sector where soldiers were kidnapped stands to be promoted, IDF chief of staff changes his mind, suspends promotion

The IDF chief of staff, Lieutenant General Dan Halutz, announced Sunday evening that he is suspending the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel A., the intelligence officer of the Galilee division who served in the sector where two reservists Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were kidnapped and eight other soldiers were killed.

 

As Ynet reported earlier, Halutz decided to promote Lieutenant Colonel A. to the role of Colonel and intelligence officer of the Southern Command.

 

Sources in the IDF explained that following the report and following criticism by military officials, the chief of staff, who authorized the promotion, changed his mind and decided to suspend the appointment until the end of the operational investigation into the kidnapping.

 

On Sunday, Ynet reported that Lieutenant Colonel A. will begin serving as the intelligence officer of the Southern Command within a few days and will be promoted to Colonel.

 

The decision to immediately promote Lieutenant Colonel A. at the Southern Command was made after the current intelligence officer was forced to leave his job due to personal reasons, and the intelligence department was forced to find a replacement on a short notice. Lieutenant Colonel A., who served in a senior position in the Southern Command in the past, was eventually chosen.

 

IDF officers were surprised by the lieutenant colonel's promotion, in light of the fact that an internal military investigation may implicate him in responsibility for the failures leading to the kidnapping and the death of eight soldiers.

 

IDF officials praised the chief of staff's decision to suspend the promotion and pointed out that it was an appropriate decision, even if it was made at the last minute, after the appointment has already been approved by the intelligence branch and the chief of staff in the past few days.

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.10.06, 22:15
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