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Maj. Gen. Udi Adam, head of the northern command responsible for securing the Israel-Lebanon border, announced his resignation on Wednesday. (file)
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners September 13, 2006 |
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An Israeli general pushed aside in the middle of the recent war against Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas announced his resignation on Wednesday, the army said.
Maj. Gen. Udi Adam, head of the northern command responsible for securing the Israel-Lebanon border, asked to leave his post "as soon as possible," the army said in a statement.
"The chief of staff has accepted the request to begin the process of his replacement," the statement said.
Following Adam's announcement, Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer called on Halutz to resign.
"I respect and salute Adam's decision. He knew when to accept responsibility and I hope the Chief of Staff speak out soon and take responsibility as well," Ben-Eliezer said.
Ben-Eliezer, who is a reserve brigadier general, said Adam's move showed that he was willing to take his part of responsibility for the handling of the war in Lebanon.
Sources close to Adam said the general made the decision to resign about a month ago, but delayed stepping down from his post until after "the last IDF soldier returned from Lebanon," Maariv reported Wednesday. The sources said Adam wanted to set a personal example by refusing to take part in power struggles going on in the defense establishment.
The sources praised the general for what they said was a "proud and responsible" decision. Adam, they said, had been walking around with a "full stomach" since the end of the war.
Adam reportedly had several tiffs with Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, the army chief, during the war. Adam was apparently seen as too cautious and hesitant in his decision-making, and Halutz appointed Maj. Gen. Moshe Kaplinski, deputy army chief, to command the war while the fighting was raging.
The Northern Command post was Adam's second position as a major general in the IDF, an appointment he received last year after he already had one foot out the door following the completion of his tenure as OC Logistics Directorate in which he oversaw the smooth implementation of the disengagement.
Halutz will have to appoint two new generals within the General Staff following Adam's decision and OC Central Command Maj.-Gen. Yair Naveh's decision to end his term as well. One of the leading candidates to replace Adam is OC Operations Directorate Maj.-Gen. Gadi Eizenkot.
The AP contributed to this report.
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