Galant: 'Soldiers draw strength from IDF values'
Photo: Courtesy of IDF spokesman
Incoming IDF chief Galant honored by scouts
Chief of staff designate imparts words of wisdom while receiving badge of honor, draws parallels between core values of scouts, IDF
The next chief of staff, GOC Southern Command Major General Yoav Galant, received a badge of honor from the scouts movement on Tuesday evening. Galant, who will take over from Major General Gabi Ashkenazi, was invited to the ceremony in Ramat Gan, where he spoke to those gathered there.
"Like the spirit of the IDF, which is like a moral compass for soldiers and officers, the scouts' commandments are a lighthouse guiding cadets and leaders," Galant said. "Basic values are at the core of IDF service, and soldiers draw spiritual strength from them. There is also a basic commitment to human dignity, regardless of religion, race or gender."
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Galant continued to draw parallels between the values of the IDF and the scouts movement. "Those who are interested in texts will find a direct relation between responsibility and discipline," he said. "Above all are reliability and comradeship. A soldier presents things accurately, in action and in reports. He acts in brotherhood, in dedication to his comrades in arms."
"Today too, when I speak to officers at the start of their path, I present a collection of qualities crucial to a young leader: Honesty, courage and other qualities," Galant continued. "Above all – integrity, because without this, the rest is meaningless."
At the beginning of last week the government confirmed Galant's appointment as the IDF's 20th chief of staff, determining that he would serve in this position for three years only. MK Michael Eitan (Likud) was the only one opposed to the nomination, citing the Amikam lands affair in which Galant was involved. Galant, he claimed, had acted like a gangster for a long period and ignored the law.
The "Galant document" affair, involving a letter apparently forged by Boaz Harpaz, is ongoing. No indictment has been filed against the suspect, and the work of the Brik Committee, appointed by Defense Minister Ehud Barak to investigate the affair, has been frozen for fear that it would disrupt legal proceedings.
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