New chief of staff will try to repair "Israeli" confidence

Source: Compiled by Daily Star, 05-2-2007
The "Israeli" Cabinet on Sunday unanimously approved the appointment of a former infantry general as the new military chief of staff, with the mission of rebuilding confidence in the Jewish (Zionist) state`s war machine after last summer`s conflict in Lebanon.
Gabi Ashkenazi will take over from Lieutenant General Dan Halutz, who resigned last month following public criticism of the military`s failure in the 2006 Lebanon war. Halutz, a former air force chief, was criticized as not having enough experience in leading ground forces.
Ashkenazi, who was director general of the Defense (War) Ministry and formerly the deputy chief of staff, has a wealth of infantry experience.
He fought as an infantryman in the 1973 Arab-"Israeli" war, took part in "Israel`s" hostage rescue at Entebbe, Uganda, in 1976 and commanded major operations during the "Israeli" invasion of Lebanon in 1982 before overseeing the withdrawal of "Israeli" forces in 2000. He quit the army in 2002 after losing out on the top job to Halutz and was not in uniform during the 34 days of fighting last year.
Olmert praised Ashkenazi ahead of the Cabinet vote.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense (War) Minister Amir Peretz nominated Ashkenazi two weeks ago.
"I feel that I have a serious responsibility and I hope to justify the faith that has been given to me," Ashkenazi was quoted by the "Israeli" daily Haaretz as telling Peretz after the Cabinet`s approval of his nomination.
Ashkenazi was widely seen as a safe candidate to replace Halutz, ahead of the preliminary findings, expected in the coming weeks, of a government-appointed panel examining the handling of the war by "Israeli" leaders and military commanders.