Minister Ben-Eliezer calls on IDF Chief of Staff Halutz to resign

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National Infrastructures Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor) on Thursday called on Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Dan Halutz to resign, in light of what he called Halutz's failed leadership during the second Lebanon war.

In calling for the IDF chief's resignation, Ben-Eliezer also cited recent high-level appointments to the IDF command made by Halutz without first consulting with Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

In an interview with Israel Radio, Ben-Eliezer said that Halutz erred by not taking action against IDF division commanders who fought the war in Lebanon. Last week, the General Staff decided against dismissing four officers who commanded divisions during the 34-day war with Hezbollah.

According to Ben-Eliezer, Halutz is incapable of rebuilding the army's weakened deterrence ability and should therefore leave his post immediately.

Haaretz

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1. IDF war inquiry officers support promotions for wartime division chiefs

Seems Peretz and Halutz are in a pissing contest now. Do we have civilian control of the military, or not?

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Defense Ministry officials defended Peretz's decision review the appointments, which has worsened the tensions with Halutz. Peretz, they added, went so far as to warn the chief of staff that he would not approve new postings for the division commanders, but Halutz ignored the warning.

Associates of Peretz also charged that Halutz has completely ignored several decisions made by the defense minister, including his instructions to evacuate West Bank settlement outposts.

The Halutz camp, meanwhile, fears that Peretz is motivated by political considerations. Military sources claimed that Peretz displayed "disinterest and a lack of seriousness" when the findings of the investigations into the divisions' war conduct were presented to him recently.

The appointment that Peretz is thought to be considering vacating is that of Brigadier General Guy Tzur as commander of the Tze'elim base. Military sources close to Halutz yesterday denied Internet reports that the chief of staff was considering stepping down if Peretz obstructed his appointments. However, in the past few days, rumors have been circulating in the IDF that Halutz plans to resign his post in two months' time, after the military investigations into the war are completed.

Haaretz