Netanyahu: Stop buzz over Galant affair
For first time since its publication, prime minister, IDF chief voice concern over Galant document
"The army's top echelon must quit busying itself with matters of this investigation, and I expect the army and defense establishment's top levels to continue working together and cooperating for the benefit of Israel's security," Netanyahu said after the meeting.
The prime minister, who is also scheduled to meet with Ashkenazi later Wednesday, has asked the attorney general to speed up the investigation, which has presented an insurmountable obstacle in the selection of a new army chief.
Earlier the IDF chief of staff made a public speech on the Galant document. "This affair hurts us all, as it does all those who are involved in it," Ashkenazi told the graduates of the Command and Staff College.
"We are all now carrying the enlarged burden of continuing to defend the citizens of Israel and proving we are worthy of this task," Ashkenazi added. He said the IDF had been cooperating with police investigators for 10 days, but gave no further details.
"We trust in Israel Police and the law enforcement authorities to make the truth public as soon as possible. If a fault is found we will take care of it without delay."
In a personal message he published Tuesday night, Ashkenazi hinted that certain IDF officials were trying to harm his reputation, exposing rifts in the army's upper ranks.
"The media is unfortunately publishing half-truths and inexact information, which is voiced by different officials," he wrote about colleagues with whom he has tense relations.
But the chief of staff promised to be more transparent after the investigation concluded. "I assume that following the probe I and we will have more to say," he wrote.
Meanwhile, the military prosecution refrained from criticizing Ashkenazi, who has said together with the judge advocate general that he did not pass the document along to the latter.
