 |
 |
 |
|
|
Brig. Gen. Moshe "Boogie" Yaalon
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By Israel Insider staff and partners February 16, 2005 |
|
| |
In a surprise move, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told Chief of Staff Moshe "Boogie" Ya'alon that he would not agree to a customary term extension.
Ya'alon's term will therefore end on July 9, just days before the expulsion plan implementation is to begin. Sources say the decision amounts to a "slap in the face" and was due to the army chief's past statement about "disengagement." Army sources say the decision may cause disruptions and confusion.
Ya'alon had expressed his desire to remain on for another year. Such extensions have been, in the past, routinely granted. However, this time the Defense Minister, during a routine briefing on the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians over the handover of the Jericho area, was told that his requested had been denied by the political echelon.
As a result of the decision, Ya'alon will retire from the IDF in five months, days before the expected implementation of the "disengagement" plan.
Defense establishment sources expressed shock at the decision, Israeli media reported, and said that it amounted to an expression of no confidence in the chief of staff. Military sources protested that the defense minister had not bothered to ask senior IDF staff for its opinion on Ya'alon's tenure, nor was their a formal evaluation process.
The timing of the move suggested to political observers, both from left and right sides of the political spectrum, that the sudden decision was due to Ya'alon's opposition and tough questioning of the "disengagement" process as it impacted on the IDF.
Chairman of the Knesset's Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud), criticized the fact that neither Mofaz nor Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had notified him of the decision.
"Despite our differences of opinion, especially in matters of intelligence, he was a good chief of staff, very talented and extremely intelligent", Steinitz said.
Yahad MK Yossi Sarid said that "Ya'alon was a more decent chief of staff than Mofaz. The defense minister's timing of the decision is more than peculiar and raises quite a few concerns."
MK Efraim Sneh (Labor) said that Ya'alon's expected departure days before the planned implementation of the retrreat "endangers the prospects of the plan's success."
Labor MK and former head of the Mossad Danny Yatom said the decision to replace the chief of staff right before the disengagement was "irresponsible and inexplicable." He called for an immediate inquiry into the decision before the committee.
Speaking with Army Radio, Meir Ramon, described as a friend of Ya'alon, said that "Everything in this decision is personal. It was an undemocratic move. Ahead of the pullout, the system needed a 'yes-man' and Moshe wasn't."
Haaretz quoted senior IDF staff officers as saying that "someone must have lost his sense of national responsiblity" when reaching the decision to replace both IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon and Shin Bet security services chief Avi Dichter prior to the implementation of the disengagement plan.
Rightists said the decision was prompted by political considerations. MK Zvi Hendel of the right-wing National Union party said Mofaz had taken the step because Ya'alon had expressed his opposition to the disengagement plan in the past.
Hendel said Sharon was directing "a dictatorial regime in which anyone who doesn't stay in the insane rut of the disengagement is canned."
National Religious Party MK Slomiansky remarked that "The IDF chief is going, Shin Bet chief is going, and its time for PM Sharon to go."
New chief to be selected soon
A leading candidate to replace Ya'alon is Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Halutz, a former Air Force Commander, and his predecessor Gabi Ashkenazi.
Halutz is believed to enjoy Sharon's support. Although he came under criticism for targeted elimination attempts against terrorist leaders which caused extensive civilian casualties during his IAF tenure, in recent months Halutz has been toeing the government line.
But additional candidates have not been ruled out, and a rapid selection process is expected, involving senior IDF appointments.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
| |
|
|
