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Not a good time. Barak
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Yoav Galant
Photo: IDF Publicity

Officers: Barak weakening army at critical time

Army officials say decision to appoint interim army chief after cancellation of Galant's appointment 'destabilizes system'

"Terrible", "concerning" and "problematic" were just some of the words used by IDF officers Tuesday night to describe the cancellation of Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant's appointment as army chief and the decision to nominate his deputy, Major General Yair Naveh, to serve as acting army chief for a maximum term of 60 days, until Defense Minister Ehud Barak appoints a suitable candidate to the position.

 

"The appointment of an interim army chief destabilizes the system even more," one IDF officer said. "There was the option of extending the current IDF chief's term, so as not to shock the system, but I guess internal feuds were the decisive factor."

 


Galant's estate in Moshav Amikam (Photo: Shaul Golan)

 

Some senior officers criticized the decision to cancel Galant's appointment, while others fear it will lead the "settling of scores" within the General Staff. "This is one of the saddest days in IDF history. It will be difficult to look in the eyes of those who are under our command and say 'everything is alright,'" one officer said.

 

The decision to appoint Naveh as interim IDF chief stems from Barak's lack of faith in current IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi. Those who are familiar with the relationship between the two say it reached a boiling point when news of the "Galant document" affair broke out.

 

"Naveh will find it difficult to make decisions, even with regards to appointments. Two months is a very long time. Operation Cast Lead was completed in less time. Many things can happen. It's enough to see the recent developments in our region - in Egypt, Lebanon and other places – to understand the gravity of this situation," another senior officer said.

 

Meanwhile, the race for the IDF chief of staff position has officially begun. IDF officials believe the next army chief should be either Benny Gantz or Gadi Eizenkot, the two generals who lost to Galant in the previous round. "They both have a lot of experience, they were candidates and are able to lead the army," one official said.

 

Other possible candidates are Moshe Kaplinsky, Avi Mizrahi, Shlomo Yanai and Naveh. The cancellation of Galant's appointment may also lead to changes within the General Staff with regards to its plans and the intention of a number of generals to retire.

 

On Tuesday Ynet reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Barak canceled Galant's nomination for the position of IDF chief of staff, after he was found by the State Comptroller to have annexed public land to his home.

 

The decision came after Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein told the High Court of Justice earlier that Galant's nomination holds significant legal difficulties due to the comptroller's findings. Weinstein said he doubted Galant was "ethically" suitable for the role.

 

Galant told his associates Tuesday night that a "forbidden act" was behind the cancellation of his appointment.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 02.02.11, 08:58
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