National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin
Former defense minister: We knew of weapons smuggling
National infrastructure minister testifies at Winograd committee, admits security establishment’s knowledge of Syrian, Iranian arms smuggling to Hizbullah, explains diplomatic actions taken, not operative ones
National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer testified before the Winograd committee Tuesday and said, “The security establishment knew of weapons being smuggled to Hizbullah by
countries supporting terror like Syria and
Iran.”
Ben-Eliezer was subpoenaed to testify in light of his former role as defense minister, to which he was appointed five months after the Israel Defense Forces withdrew from Lebanon in the year 2000 and until November 2002, and also in light of his role as a cabinet member during the recent Lebanon war.
Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who orchestrated the first withdrawal from Lebanon and even served as defense minister prior to it, also testified before the committee.
Ben-Eliezer’s told the committee that during his time as defense minister, the security establishment was aware of the smuggling of weapons to Hizbullah from Syria and Iran, and claimed that things were done in diplomatic and intelligence aspects, although in the absence of operative actions.
Ben-Eliezer said that starting from the very first days of the withdrawal from Lebanon, intelligence estimates were plentiful about arms finding their way into Hizbullah’s hands.
With regards to the current war, Ben-Eliezer did not conceal the stance that he held a minority opinion during the second Lebanon war. He testified that he spoke of ground operations from the beginning of the war.
Still, the infrastructure minister emphasized that he was a member of the government and as such had ministerial responsibilities.
