IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Dan Halutz decidedMonday to adopt most of the recommendations of the report by Doron Almog regarding the kidnapping incident where soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were abducted.
Even after a hearing was held for former Galilee Division Commander Brigadier General Gal Hirsch, Halutz decided to adopt the original recommendation, which advised that Hirsch hold a position at headquarters only.
Hirsch was awaiting the decision by the chief of staff after a special hearing was conducted a few weeks ago regarding his issue. Even after the hearing, Halutz decided to adopt the original recommendations.
In light of the decision, Hirsch, who resigned from his position because of the report, was expected to take his leave within the next few days.
Hirsch saying goodbye (Photo: Avihu Shapira)
During the hearing, Hirsch himself explained to Halutz and the generals that he should not be held accountable for the abduction, and described processes and events that took place in the weeks and days that preceded the kidnapping, and with which he was forced to deal.
Hirsch hoped that Halutz will arrive at a different conclusion and will not accept the recommendations of the Almog report or will at least limit its time period. If this would have happened, the assessment was that Hirsch would have retracted his resignation.
During a farewell ceremony from his subordinates last week, Hirsch said that "there is a considerable gap between the feelings and what actually happened. Days will pass until the story of the war is balanced and put in the right place."
Hirsch added that "we didn’t succeed in everything, there is a lot left to learn and teach, but we accomplished out missions and hit the enemy hard. It is not on the border anymore and we may build zimmers (wooden cabins) on fertile ground and not on barrels of explosives," Hirsch added.
Hirsch is replaced by Brig. General Yossi Bachar, a temporary nomination of Chief of Staff Halutz, whose previous nominations were rejected by Defense Minister Amir Peretz.
General Hirsch handed in his resignation to the chief of staff a few weeks ago after the Almog investigation found him personally responsible for the kidnapping of Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser which triggered the second Lebanon war.