MK Hendel: Halutz should go home
'It bothers me Halutz is wearing IDF uniform,' Knesset Member says of chief of staff, 'he neutered the army and incited it to a destructive program'
"If the opportunity arises, I will tell Halutz it bothers me that he is wearing the IDF's uniform. He took an immoral step… ahead of a war that was approaching," Hendel said Tuesday.
The atmosphere during the meeting is expected to be tense. Many of the committee's members, from the right and left, have much to say about Halutz, and could vent their spleen during the meeting on Tuesday.
"The most difficult years I faced were during my time as head of the Gaza Council, where my friends were murdered before my eyes. With that, I never – even in the most difficult moments – opposed the army because I thought the public must not lost confidence in it. But now, there is no option but to demand that Halutz go home. Where did he bring us? He neutered the army and incited it to a destructive program," Hendel said.
'No opposition to disengagement'
Referring to the disengagement from Gaza, Hendel added: "I am astounded how in every senior army level there was not even a single individual who told (former Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon that the plan must not be carried out. Instead, Halutz was prepared to replace Moshe (Bogi) Yaalon and promised to do the work with determination and sensitivity. Arrogance is a not a good enough quality to march the IDF towards the difficult challenges down the path."
Halutz faced criticism for the army's poor performance in the war against Hizbullah during the second round of talks with reserve generals held in the Defense Ministry compound in Tel Aviv on Friday.
Maj.-Gen. Avigdor Ben-Gal (res.), former northern command chief, called on Halutz to resign, saying he committed numerous mistakes during 34-days of fighting. Ben-Gal went as far as suggesting that an air force officer is unfit to lead the army. Halutz was the air force chief before being promoted to the IDF's top seat.
