 |
 |
 |
|
|
New IDF Chief of Staff, Gabi Ashkenazi
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By Ynetnews February 14, 2007 |
|
| |
 Bookmark to del.icio.us |
| |
Gabi Ashkenazi, the Israel Defense Forces' 19th chief of staff, was awarded the rank of lieutenant-general Wednesday morning by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz.
The ceremony at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem was attended by outgoing Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and former Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon, generals, politicians and Ashkenazi's family members.
"The main challenge is rehabilitating the IDF's abilities and applying the lessons learned from the second Lebanon war," said the new chief of staff, and did not forget to mention last summer's achievements along with its failures.
"Our soldiers had the upper hand in every singe battle," he said.
He expressed great appreciation for the reserve soldiers, who "we will be needing for many years to come," and said "we will fix what is necessary, there are not magical solutions."
"As a son of this land whose parents came from foreign countries," added Ashkenazi on a personal note, "the IDF was home to me, and a melting pot. I will work to preserve it as an army of the people operating among its people and community."
He did not forget to praise his predecessor, who had once beat him in the race to the position, "your personal, quality contribution to the defense of the people and the country is very admirable. The people of Israel and the Defense Establishment should be thankful to you. Danny my friend, in the name of the people of Israel, I salute you."
The 18th chief of staff, Dan Halutz, ended his journey after dozens of military inquiries following the second Lebanon war. Speaking in the ceremony, he did not hide his feelings, and spoke of the "social threats" on society.
"A head chopping culture is a destructive one. We must be patient and tolerant even of mistakes, as long as they are reasonable, and the one making them works to see where they went wrong, to reach conclusions and apply the lessons...we must fear those who take glory in constant success, they surely will not reach any conclusions or make any corrections.
"The IDF has completed its investigations, and I wonder, what about the national examination, that will test us all, every last one of us. An examination that will test the dialogue, the leaks, the superficiality, the short-term memory," Halutz said.
After a meeting with Acting President Dalia Itzik, the former director-general of the Defense Ministry and deputy chief of staff will arrive at the Kirya base in Tel Aviv for a ceremony, where he will be received by major-generals of the General Staff.
Ashkenazi will then accompany Halutz to his vehicle and bid him farewell.
Following the ceremony, the first General Staff meeting will take place and in the evening Ashkenazi will attend Halutz's goodbye party.
Ashkenazi is very popular among soldiers and commanders in the field, but will have a difficult time living up to the high expectations.
The military he is receiving is in need of a serious awakening, the General Staff will have to examine its actions in all areas, including Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and Iran, while the public's faith in the military is at an all-time low.
At the first General Staff meeting he will announce that at this point there are no plans to replace any officers, and that the only changes in the near future would be by any officers who decide to retire on their own.
With Ashkenazi's experience and background, he is the uppermost security authority today, and all eyes are on him.
He will likely work to get the army back to basics, and is a great believer in the term "army of the people," meaning there are no plans to transform the army into a professional one for the time being.
Reprinted with permission from Ynet. |
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
