Olmert. Not the same IDF
Photo: Amit Shabi
Olmert: IDF is a better army now
Prime minister says army upgraded equipment, training; ministerial committee meets to discuss recommendations made by war commission
"The IDF of today is not the same as that of last year," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
ruled on Wednesday.
Olmert made the remarks during a meeting of the ministerial committee for the implementation of recommendations made by the Shahak team that was appointed to fix government failures during last summer's war.
Led by former IDF Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, the team was charged with advising the government about ways to implement the recommendations made by the Winograd commission that investigated the war's failures.
"There is no doubt that over the last few weeks significant changes took place in the IDF in terms of training and equipment," Olmert said. "My colleagues and I are following the matter to restore full fitness to the IDF according to the important recommendations of the Winograd commission," he said.
Ministers will discuss a draft law to invest the National Security Council (NSC) with the power to take a more active part in the decision-making process in times of war.
"The law will give the prime minister and the government quality means. The National Security Council will be able to operate during military and civilian emergency situations," Olmert said.
Olmert gave the NSC a month to put together a plan to implement the recommendations.
"The decision that will be made today will be part of the implementation of recommendations made by the Winograd Committee," Olmert said.
