State comptroller’s report: IDF officers' training incompetent

According to the comptroller, not only does a significant portion of the senior Israel Defense Forces’ staff not undergo the mandatory training, but also, those who do, do not acquire the skills needed to perform their jobs, due to Incompetent training.

This generates a problematic reality, in which IDF’s senior officials do not really have a “clear, professional language in common, that is necessary for managing and commanding IDF’s major sections during routine or emergency,” said the state comptroller in his report.

In another section, Lindenstrauss illustrates the lack of correspondence between budgeting and planning within the IDF. Apparently, the IDF has trouble estimating its required funding. This may explain the troubles the War Reserves Store Unit had in the second Lebanon war.

The comptroller stated that “the emergency ammunition inventory levels have not been updated in years for many kinds of IDF’s ammunition.”

The planning committee only partly supervised the ammunition inventory levels. And so “the planning committee and the deputy chief of staff probably did not have an accurate picture of the IDF’s ammunition needs, or an answer to the question whether under such circumstances IDF is allocating the optimal resources, or if there is a lack of these resources.”

Asbestos oversight

The comptroller also criticized the delay in removing asbestos plates in the IDF. The military started the asbestos removal process in 1998, and up until the end of the review period in February 2006, they still had a long way to go. For now, the asbestos continues to put the soldier’s health at risk.

Another shortcoming uncovered by the comptroller is the way complaints of sexual harassment are dealt with. The complainants are put through hell, and the convicted are often shown too much compassion.

Lindenstrauss also addressed the danger in IDF deserters keeping their weapons.

State Comptroller Lindenstrauss submits report to Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

As of yet, deserters keeping their weapons go unnoticed, again because of poor supervision. This danger was realized when deserting soldier Eden Natan Zada committed a terror attack in Shfaram just over a year ago.

Lindenstrauss also referred to the growing phenomenon of young girls evading compulsory military service for religious reasons. He believes that many of these girls deceive the system by falsely stating they are religious to get out of service. The comptroller says this can be minimized by checking on each girl.

Secret problems

For security reasons, the comptroller could not go into detail, but he reportedly found trouble in how prepared the State is to prevent “significant failures”. This trouble supposedly stems from not adhering to former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s instructions.

Lindenstrauss blames the setbacks on the Transport and Finance Ministries, and calls on them to reach the necessary solutions as soon as possible “or even earlier.”

Other topics found on the report include the Border Guard’s merge into the IDF. The relationship between the two bodies has not been appropriately defined, and even though the Border Guard is subordinate to IDF, there is no official document to settle the terms and responsibilities.

Yaron prefers to keep quiet

In the section dedicated to the Defense Ministry, the comptroller slams the faulty management, supervision and control of the office building project on Rabin Base in Tel Aviv that has wasted too much money.

He also criticizes Former Defense Ministry Director-General Amos Yaron on his decision not to investigate the NIS 5.6 million (about USD 1.3 million) overpayment to the building project’s contractor. Lindenstrauss said Yaron’s decision was unreasonable, and passed the subject on the State Prosecutor’s office to decide if there a criminal investigation should be opened.

The Defense Ministry’s conduct regarding IDF heritage museums was also criticized. The comptroller criticized the way they the museums were established, their direction and their goals. Most of the museums don’t even focus on the IDF and it’s evolution.

Great expenses

Another discrepancy found are the continued expenses being paid towards a foundation established years ago for building a memorial site on Mt. Eitan. Construction of the site was stopped in 1996, but still the Defense Ministry has continued to pay the foundation’s wages and pensions.

By the end of 2005 the payments towards the foundation had reached no less than NIS 11.5 million (about 2.7 million US dollars). The comptroller recommended the Defense Ministry look into this.

Working in the Nuclear Research Center pays off, according to the report. Especially if one plans to retire there. Retired workers of the Center have received significant financial benefits and some of the workers were even given months off work before retirement – fully paid.