Former IDF Chief Halutz: PM to blame for fire

Former IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General (res.) Dan Halutz called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the other ministers and senior officials to take responsibility for the massive Carmel fire that claimed the lives of 43 people.

"The one who carries the overall responsibility is the prime minister (Benjamin Netanyahu)," Halutz said in an interview on Channel 2's "Meet the Press," where he discussed the State Comptroller's report that exposed the government's failures in dealing with the national disaster.

"The second person to be held accountable is the finance minister (Yuval Steinitz), and the third is the interior minister (Eli Yishai), who is responsible for putting out the fire," Halutz continued. "There are other liable persons who carry ministerial accountability, which is the overall responsibility for the functioning of the system."

Halutz, who quit the top IDF post in the aftermath of the Second Lebanon War, said that ministers who are to blame for the alleged negligence should resign.

"Resigning is noble," he said. "I took this step when I realized it was appropriate. This incident is grave enough to reflect a continual situation… Responsibility is not guilt, and taking responsibility does not mean admitting guilt… It means that I am accountable for tasks when they are not carried out well."

He added that former leaders are not at fault. "On Facebook, they said that previous administrations should resign as well. They said, 'it was on our watch, but the ones before us are to blame.' Resigning is honest."

Halutz has recently joined Kadima. "I can't force anyone to elect me," he said. "The 62 years of my life were dedicated to the State of Israel. If they want, I will be there. If not, I won't be there."

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