Peres lauds outgoing army chief

In the midst of a political tumult following the cancellation of Yoav Galant's candidacy for IDF chief of staff and the expected designation of Major-General Benny Gantz, President Shimon Peres found time to host the IDF General Staff in his home.

Peres complimented the outgoing IDF chief, Major General Gabi Ashkenazi, saying that "I had no doubt that I would get to see him as the chief of staff, as I have seen in him a daring but reasonable man… all the magic of Golani is on his shoulders."

"He created a glorious generation of young commanders", Peres said and added that Ashkenazi managed to restore the people's trust in the IDF after the Second Lebanon War.

"I've seen a commander walk the line between strategy and tactics without losing his balance. I've noticed him paying attention to small details as well as to the big picture," he added.

Peres continued to praise Ashkenazi: "You were one of the best IDF chiefs of staff Israel has ever known, and for that I salute you." The president awarded the outgoing IDF chief with a statue of David Ben-Gurion and said: "This is very precious to me."

Peres salutes Ashkenazi (Photo: Noam Moskowitz) 

Ashkenazi then complimented his replacement, Major-General Gantz. "Today I watch from the sidelines and I leave you a strong army, with the best technology and human resources. An army that has the capability to travel outside the country and win incase a war breaks out. I would have been happy to bring Ben-Gurion here today and tell him how the IDF has brought his vision back to life."

IDF belongs to all

Ashkenazi thanked the IDF senior command forum saying: "We all understand that the IDF doesn't belong to anyone, but rather to all of us. I finish my term feeling satisfied, proud, knowing that the IDF is in good hands."

Recently the IDF was shaken by the 20th IDF chief of staff appointment debacle. After cancelling Yoav Galant's candidacy and the controversial decision to appoint Major-General Yair Naveh as temporary IDF chief, Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided to name Major-General Benny Gantz for the coveted position.

A statement issued by Barak's office, in coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, noted: "The prime minster and defense minister feel it is important to remove any uncertainty surrounding the chief of staff's appointment and to stabilize the army by appointing a chief of staff who will lead the IDF in the face of the current challenges." 

The IDF General Staff forum (Photo: Noam Moskowitz)

Galant is expected to speak before the High Court of Justice on Tuesday after filing an interim order to stop the appointment process until the Turkel Committee reconsiders his candidacy. In the meantime the interim order has been denied.

The Turkel Committee is expected to convene on Tuesday and Wednesday to meet with the prime minister, defense minister, the outgoing IDF chief, and Gantz. After making a decision the government will have to approve the appointment.

Gantz refused to discuss the issue until the approval from the government and only mentioned he is in for a busy week: "Allow me to start my week off right, I have a lot on my mind," he said.

Gantz seems to know what he is talking about. Aside from an intensive and compact training period, he will immediately begin working on complicated and crucial goals: A new estimate of the situation in the Middle East, a new IDF five-year plan including human resource and recruitment issues regarding motivation, haredi recruits and a long list of new IDF appointments.

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