Galant outside his home Friday
Photo: Ido Erez
Comptroller: Galant asked to lease public land – then seized it
More details from report on designated chief of staff reveal blueprints of his home indicate he planned to seize public land from the beginning. Supporter: He gave his whole life to Israel
According to the State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss' report, designated Chief of Staff Yoav Galant seized public land near his home in Moshav Amikam after his request to lease it was denied.
Additional details from the report, published Friday, show that the home's blueprints indicate that Galant had planned on seizing the public area from the beginning.
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"He planned for the entrance to the property and the driveway to be on public land, and therefore situated his home and the entrance to it in an area that was not included in the original building permit," the report says. "Galant confirmed this was his intention on a number of occasions."
The report also mentions that in 2007 the State Prosecutor's Office said Galant "did not act innocently throughout the affair."
After Lindenstrauss determined Thursday that Galant withheld the truth in depositions he signed, seized public land and only requested permits after the fact, it appears as though the newly published details move him further away from the chief of staff's office.
Senior legal sources estimated Thursday that Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein would find it very hard to defend Galant's appointment to the role of chief of staff before the High Court of Justice and will return the issue to the Turkel Senior Appointments Committee for further deliberation.
Supporters continued to visit Galant at his home in Moshav Amikam Friday. Yosef Hasson, who served under Galant's command in Jenin, said "I know Yoav is an honest and decent man. I remember when we were in Jenin and I entered a store to buy something and the clerk did not have any change and said 'take it, free of charge', Yoav refused and gave him a 50 shekel bill. The State of Israel deserves a chief of staff like Galant, who will bring the lift four or five levels higher than where it is today."
Amikam resident Sigal Sasson said, "A man who is worthy of being a major general is also worthy of being chief of staff. (Galant) has been in the army since he was 18 and gave his whole life to the country."
Aviad Glickman and Boaz Fyler contributed to the report
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