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Halutz: Not obsessed with being PM
Photo: Ido Erez

Halutz headed for political career?

Former IDF chief slams government for 'being dragged into retaliation rather than initiating'

Former IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz gave a speech Saturday in which he expressed disappointment with "where the state is headed". Halutz also condemned the ultra-Orthodox community for refusing to adhere to High Court rulings.

 

Speaking at a cultural event in Holon, Halutz attacked the government. "If we continue to be dragged into retaliation rather than initiating, we will achieve nothing but the worsening of the situation," he said.

 

Halutz added that he was considering going into politics. "I ask myself many questions, and meet with politicians to receive suggestions and opinions regarding my decision on the matter," he said.

 

"Undoubtedly in certain fields the thought passes and has passed in my mind that it could be done better, but I have no obsession with becoming prime minister."

 

The former IDF chief also condemned ultra-Orthodox parents in Emmanuel who refused to obey a High Court ruling ordering the cancelation of separatist policies at the local state-funded school.

 

"There is one rule, according to which the law of the land always overcomes, and if we don't adopt this everyone will be able to take the law into their own hands. A state that doesn't care about this is doomed to social anarchy and Israel is too small for this," he said.

 

"It is unacceptable for those who disobey a state decision will enjoy its resources like anyone else. I am not against private education, but those who want it must pay for it."

 

Regarding kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, whose parents are preparing to march to Jerusalem Sunday, Halutz, during whose term as chief of staff Shalit was kidnapped, said the public should ease pressure on the government.

 

"It is very easy to support the emotional stance saying, 'We want Gilad back because he is the child of us all'. I understand any government that has doubts and looks at the wider meaning, however the conditions are worsening as time goes on," he said.

 

"To all those who support the deal unreservedly I suggest you think about the decision-maker who takes everything into consideration, because he could be the brother or father of the next kidnapped soldier. Leadership cannot run things based on emotions… The government doesn't always have to do what the public wants according to headlines in the press."

 

MK Nachman Shai (Kadima), who was also present at the event, was pessimistic about a prisoner swap with Hamas and said the pressure should not be on Israel, but rather on the other side.

 

"We need to invest a lot more money in public relations so that states and organizations pressure Hamas. Next they will want the tens of thousands of Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel," he said.

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.26.10, 15:38
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