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- 31 aug 2010
Ashkenazi disavows ties with Harpaz
IDF chief distances himself from the Galant Document.
IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi distanced himself from the so-called “Galant Document” on Monday but admitted that it was in his possession for four months when the alleged forger, Lt.-Col. (res.) Boaz Harpaz, gave it to his chief aide.
Ashkenazi made the remarks during a meeting of the IDF’s General Staff on Monday that was partially dedicated to a discussion on the document which is still subject to a police investigation. Ashkenazi also congratulated OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant upon his appointment as the next chief of staff and promised to work together to ensure a smooth transfer of authority in February when Askenazi steps down.
During the meeting, Ashkenazi admitted to having received the document from Harpaz but said that it was kept in the office of his chief assistant Col. Erez Weiner, who, on his own accord, decided to give to a former IDF officer who eventually leaked it to Channel 2 News.
Ashkenazi said that he has known Harpaz for a number of years since he served as head of the IDF’s Operations Directorate and during the period he served as deputy chief of staff. “When I took up the post as chief of staff, Boaz came to me, like a number of former officers did, to present me with recommendations and ideas about various military issues,” he said.
In early 2010, Ashkenazi said that a number of people, some of them officials within the defense establishment, met with him to discuss reports they had heard about so-called “external intervention” in the race for the next chief of staff. One of them, he told the generals, was Harpaz.
“It is important for me to clarify that Harpaz and I never had business ties and he is not a visitor at my house,” Ashkenazi said. “I sent Harpaz to meet with Col. Erez Weiner, like I do in many similar cases.”
Towards the end of April, Ashkenazi said that Harpaz gave the document to Weiner, who photocopied it and returned the original.
“Later, Erez showed me the document which matched the reports that I had heard from other sources,” Ashkenazi said. “Already before receiving the document, I had decided to stay quiet and not respond to the rumors out of respect for the IDF and in an effort to retain the public’s faith in the military. This is how I continued to behave after receiving the document as well.”
Ashkenazi said that at a later stage OC Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Gadi Eizenkot and Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Benny Gantz each individually came to speak with him about rumors they had heard regarding the race for the next chief of staff.
“After much deliberation, I decided to share with them information about the document and its content,” Ashkenazi said. “I did not publicize the existence of the document in order to prevent what has taken place over the past few weeks.”
During the entire time, Ashkenazi said that the document was in Weiner’s office and that the colonel decided, without his permission, to share the document with other IDF officers and reservists, including Gabi Siboni, the former colonel who leaked it to Channel 2.
“Not even once did I think that one of the members of the General Staff could have been involved in this affair,” Ashkenazi said. “When the investigation began I turned to the attorney general on my own and informed him that I was in possession of the document.”
Meanwhile Monday, Eizenkot stood by his decision to turn down a request by Galant, the next chief of staff, to serve as his deputy. Eizenkot, according to close associates, plans to retire from the IDF after a suitable replacement is found.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak was surprised by the decision, particularly because great efforts were made to persuade Eizenkot to stay on for the stability of the IDF.
Prior to the "Galant Document" scandal, Eizenkot had reportedly suggested that he would be interested in taking on the position.
In light of this development, the two natural candidates lined up for the role would be OC Central Command Chief Avi Mizrahi, and Israel's Military Attaché in Washington Gadi Shamni. However, Mizrahi has told close associates in recent days that he would prefer not to take up the deputy position were it to be offered to him, and instead intends to finish his term at the Central Command before retiring from the IDF.
This would leave Shamni as the leading candidate, and would consequently present Galant with a young and inexperienced general staff. He may have difficulty finding a more experienced deputy, leading to speculation that he could return ousted or retired officers to service, such as Brig.-Gen. Moshe (Chico) Tamir or Brig.-Gen. Imad Faris.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=186496 6 dec 2010, 10:56 , Respect -
Maria 2 sept 2010
Barak: Rogue officers came close to sabotaging race to lead IDF
Scandal over forged document 'deeply harmed' public trust in the military, defense minister says, hinting at broad conspiracy within the IDF.
Rogue officers nearly succeeded in sabotaging the race to become the next Israel Defense Forces chief, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Thursday in his first public comment on a forged document scandal that has rocked the army.
Two weeks ago, Barak named one of the IDF's top generals, Yoav Galant, as successor to Gabi Ashkenazi, whose term as chief of staff expires in February 2011. But the appointment only went ahead after it became clear Galant was not behind a leaked document that outlined a plan to smear his rivals.
Police now think the document was fake and are holding a former officer, Boaz Harpaz, on suspicion of forgery.
"I am concerned by this attempt by a number of senior officers, in both the regular forces and the reserves, to obstruct and postpone appointment of the next chief of staff and illegitimately influence the process," Barak said in a statement.
Speculation over the authenticity of the document, which dominated Israeli headlines for weeks, had severely harmed the army's image, Barak said.
"The attempt nearly succeeded," he said. "It caused deep damaged to public trust in the IDF."
The minister's reference to "a number of officers" apparently contradicts the version of police, who said Wednesday that the believed Harpaz acted alone in the forgery - and points to the possibility of a wider conspiracy within the IDF.
Barak said he had appointed a committee under a reserve general, Yithak Brik, that would "take steps" to ensure that the events would not be repeated. He gave no indication of what for the action the committee would take.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/barak-rogue-officers-came-close-to-sabotaging-race-to-lead-idf-1.311724
State to High Court: Holyland affair to be decided within 4 months
The State Prosecutor's Office notified the High Court that a decision regarding the Holyland corruption affair charges will be made in another two to four months. The main suspect in the affair is former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
The notification was issued in the framework of a petition issued to the court by the Ometz organization against State Prosecutor Moshe Lador in which the organization demanded that Olmert's associate, Attorney Uri Messer, be put on trial for his involvement in the investment center and Talanksy affairs.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3948076,00.html 6 dec 2010, 10:57 , Respect -
Maria 3 sept 2010
Barak to probe IDF conduct in 'Galant Document' affair
Defense Minister picks retired major-general to investigate top military officers' bids to influence appointment process.
In a sign of growing tension between the IDF and the Defense Ministry, Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday announced the appointment of a retired major-general to probe the conduct of top military officers with regard to the so-called Galant Document affair.
Barak dropped the bombshell during a meeting of the General Staff which he attended to raise a toast in honor of the upcoming Jewish New Year.
Barak said that he was particularly concerned and disturbed by the alleged involvement of senior officers some in service and others in the reserves in the affair.
This is not a simple affair and it leaves many questions even after the police completed its investigation, Barak told the IDF generals.
I am concerned by the attempt of a number of senior officers in service and in the reserves who tried to stop and delay the process of announcing the next chief of staff and to illegitimately influence the outcome, he said.
The attempt almost succeeded.
This was a move that fascinated the whole state for a few weeks, and damaged the public's faith in the IDF, the defense minister added.
The Galant Document was revealed last month on Channel 2, allegedly outlining the way to lead to the appointment of OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant to succeed Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi in February.
Police have arrested retired Lt.-Col. Boaz Harpaz, a former Military Intelligence officer apparently friendly with Ashkenazi, who allegedly forged the document.
The events were not simple, and leave a lot of question marks, even after the police finished its investigation, Barak said. It is a warning sign for whoever wishes to live in a democratic country, where the military is subordinate to the government.
Barak said he appointed Maj.- Gen. (res.) Yitzhak Brick, the current IDF ombudsman in charge of soldiers complaints, to review the affair and issue recommendations how to avoid similar incidents in the future.
In a statement interpreted as being directed at Ashkenazi, Barak said that Israeli legislation Basic Law: The Military is the shortest piece of legislation passed by the Knesset but is still very clear in the hierarchy of powers.
It says the IDF will defend the State of Israel, that the chief of staff is the highest rank in the army, and that the IDF is subject to the government's authority and that the chief of staff is subordinate to the defense minister, he said.
I plan to decisively and firmly stand for these simple things, which are the basis of our democracy.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=186961 6 dec 2010, 11:00 , Respect -
Maria 4 sept 2010
Brik Committee set to probe Galant affair
Committee of inquiry headed by IDF Ombudsman Brig.-Gen. Yitzhak Brik unlikely to question witnesses; will base findings on existing case martial
The Brik Committee, headed by IDF Ombudsman Brig.-Gen. Yitzhak Brik, will begin its investigation of the Galant Affair Sunday, as soon as it receives it official letter of appointment, but some in the defense establishment already criticize the fact that the man heading the probe is close to Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
Barak decided to name a committee of inquiry to the case, which has left the military's top echelon rattled, "In order to make sure such incidents do no reoccur."
The police investigation into the case has already uncovered a connection between Colonel Erez Weiner, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi's assistant and Lt.-Col. Boaz Harpaz, the prime suspect in the case.
The Brik Committee is unlikely to call witnesses or question anyone in particular, but rather base its findings on the materials gathered in the investigation thus far, and submit its recommendations to Barak.
Barak, who attended a General Staff meeting on Thursday, surprised the officers by announcing the committee's inception, and although it is seemingly welcomed, tensions in the General Staff are still running high.
Still, sources in the defense establishment told Ynet Saturday that the situation could not have been left unattended, and that Barak has a moral obligation to investigate the ethical aspects of the case.
The sources hinted that had the military "handled the case appropriately" the committee may not have been needed, but since this was not the case, it is important to get to investigate further and ensure that such events do not happen again.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3949265,00.html 6 dec 2010, 11:01 , Respect -
Maria 5 sept 2010
Israel's next military chief linked to war crime allegations
Yoav Galant
JERUSALEM, Major General Yoav Galant, who on Sunday was named as Israel's next military chief, is a former special forces commander and one-time lumberjack who is linked to allegations of war crimes.
Galant, 51, was confirmed by the government as the next chief of staff and will replace incumbent Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi in February.
As the army's commander for southern Israel, he oversaw the devastating December 2008-January 2009 offensive in the Gaza Strip in which 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed.
A UN probe said both Israel and Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during the 22-day campaign, which Israel launched in response to rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave.
After Galant was nominated last month, pending formal cabinet approval, Israeli human rights group B'Tselem called for thorough scrutiny of his role in the Gaza campaign, codenamed "Operation Cast Lead".
"Galant's suitability for the position must be considered in light of his responsibility for suspected violations of human rights during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip, which he commanded," B'Tselem said in a statement.
The group said that investigations into the operation had focused on rank and file soldiers and that there was a need for an inquiry into the conduct of senior commanders.
"Such an independent investigation may have direct implications for assessing Major General Galant's ability to lead the army while maintaining a proper moral code," it concluded.
Galant was born on November 8, 1958 in the mixed Arab-Jewish neighbourhood of Jaffa, part of Tel Aviv.
His mother, Fruma, arrived in British-ruled Palestine on the famed Exodus ship as a 12-year-old refugee from Nazi-occupied Poland, according to published accounts.
In 1977 Yoav Galant joined the navy's Flotilla 13 commando unit as a conscript. After six years he left to seek new experiences and spent two years as a lumberjack in Alaska, according to the YNet news website.
He then rejoined the navy, rising through the ranks to eventually become Flotilla 13's commander from 1994 to 1997.
The normally shadowy unit was thrust into the spotlight this year when its members carried out a May 31 raid on an activist ship seeking to break Israel's Gaza blockade in which nine Turks were killed.
Prior to heading the commando force he took the unusual step of transferring to the army for a year, commanding an infantry brigade in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, evidently with an eye on his future career.
YNet quoted him as telling his commanding officer at the time that he wanted "to get to know the ground forces from up close."
In 2001 he moved to the army for good, retraining in the armoured corps and becoming its commanding officer.
In 2005, Galant was appointed head of southern command, which covers the Gaza Strip and the Egyptian border region.
His wife Claudine, who he met during his time in the navy, was a lieutenant colonel in the service, YNet said.
They have three children - a son who is an officer, a daughter who recently began her compulsory military service and a second daughter in high school.
Galant holds a degree in business and financial management.
http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/World/Story/A1Story20100905-235696.html
Israel has formally appointed as its next military chief Yoav Galant, who is best known for commanding a deadly war on the strip.
Galant, whose appointment was approved on Sunday, is expected to fully take over from the current holder of the position Gabi Ashkenazi in six months' time, DPA reported.
The 51-year-old oversaw the December 2008-January 2009 Israeli offensives on the Gaza Strip, which killed more than 1,400 Palestinians and cost the impoverished enclave's economy USD 1.6 billion.
Galant is considered to be more hawkish than Ashkenazi, raising concerns that he might direct Israel towards further militarism.
Media outlets in the Arab world either expressed disapproval of the nomination or greeted it with derision, the Palestinian Ma'an news agency reported. The Lebanese broadcaster al-Manar TV had referred to Galant as a "war criminal."
Galant joined the Israeli military in 1977, the Israeli website Ynetnews said.
He, however, left Israel for Alaska to work as lumberjack, it said. Several websites seized upon the matter, calling Galant a "woodcutter."
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/141340.html
Minister Eitan: Galant acted like mobster
After cabinet approves major-general's appointment as next IDF chief, only minister to vote nay says Galant's conduct during land dispute 'raises questions as to how he will perform in future'
Michael Eitan (Likud), the only minister to vote against the appointment of Yoav Galant as the next Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, said Sunday that the major general "acted like a member of the mafia over a long period of time and ignored the law."
Yoav Galant
The minister was referring to past allegations made by a neighbor according to which Galant built a driveway at his home in Moshav Amikam on land belonging to the Israel Land Administration. A court threw out the case, and even reprimanded the neighbor for waging a battle against him in the press.
No equality.' Galant's home in Amikam
Following Sunday's cabinet vote, Eitan said a report drafted by the deputy attorney general indicated that Galant had committed offenses, adding, "His conduct raises questions as to how he will perform in the future," said the minister.
"The affair shows that there is no real equality before the law. For Israel's sake, I hope he won't have any similar mishaps in the future," Eitan added.
After approving Galant's appointment, the cabinet also decided to truncate the IDF chief of staff's term to three years with an option for a one-year extension, which is usually granted.
Outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi was the first army chief to be appointed in advance to a four-year term, but Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided not to extend his term by another year.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3949610,00.html
[Press TV News] Gaza War Commander "Gallant" Named New Israeli Military Chief
(2:15) [Press TV News] Gaza War Commander "Gallant" Named New Israeli Military Chief
Cabinet votes Galant in as next IDF chief of staff
Yoav Galant
Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant voted as 20th IDF chief in wake of sandal which aimed to tie him with an alleged PR to advance his candidacy.
The government approved Sunday the nomination of Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant as the next Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, with only Likud minister Michael Eitan objecting.
Galant's name has frequently appeared in the press in the last few weeks as a result of the media storm which rose in the of the so-called Galant document controversy, involving a document which purported to outline a PR campaign for Galant as part of his efforts to become the next IDF chief.
A police investigation cleared Galant of any involvement in the document, which has since been deemed as a fake, with a former top IDF officer arrested on forgery charges.
Speaking on the occasion of Galan'ts nomination in Sunday's cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the incoming IDF chief has "proven his worth during his 33 years of military service at the IDF's frontlines."
"He's proven himself to be a courageous fighter, an excellent officer, and a responsible and serious battle commander," the PM said, adding Galant picked up on a legacy of "dedication and excellence " bequeathed by incumbent IDF chief Gabi Ashkenazi.
While most cabinet members voted for the nomination, as was excepted, a few exceptions were noted. Noteworthy among them was that of Improvement of Government Services Minister Michael Eitan, who objected over the alleged behavior of the incoming IDF chief in a property despite in his local Amikam.
Two other exceptions to the overall approval were Deputy PM Moshe Ya'alon, who refused to take part in the vote in protest of the lack of debate over Defense Minister Ehud Barak's choice of IDF chief, along with Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog who, while voting for the nomination, too voiced his objection of its swiftness.
The cabinet also approved Barak's proposal, according to which Galant would serve for three years, giving the defense minister power to grant a fourth.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/cabinet-votes-galant-in-as-next-idf-chief-of-staff-1.312330
Ashkenazi: Galant will take my place six months from now
IDF Chief of General staff wishes successor luck, refers to "Galant Document" affair as an "unpleasant time"; Brick investigation set to begin.
IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said on Sunday that his successor, OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant, will take his place only in six months from now, hinting that he does not intend to leave his position any earlier than planned.
Speaking to a group of high school students in Or Yehuda, Ashkenazi also referred to the "Galant document" affair as an "unpleasant time," and wished Galant the best of luck in his new position. The cabinet was expected to officially approve Galant's appointment on Sunday.
In his speech, Ashkenazi also referred to the the captivity of Gilad Schalit, saying that he is committed to do everything he can to "bring Gilad back." He reminded the students of the importance of their military service, citing the recent terrorist attacks and the ongoing security threats Israel faces.
On Thursday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced the appointment of a retired major-general to probe the conduct of top military officers with regard to the Galant Document affair.
Barak said that he was particularly concerned and disturbed by the alleged involvement of senior officers some in service and others in the reserves in the affair.
This is not a simple affair and it leaves many questions even after the police completed its investigation, Barak told the IDF generals.
I am concerned by the attempt of a number of senior officers in service and in the reserves who tried to stop and delay the process of announcing the next chief of staff and to illegitimately influence the outcome, he said.
The Galant Document was revealed last month on Channel 2, allegedly outlining the way to lead to the appointment of OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant to succeed Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi in February.
Barak said he appointed Maj.- Gen. (res.) Yitzhak Brick, the current IDF ombudsman in charge of soldiers complaints, to review the affair and issue recommendations how to avoid similar incidents in the future. The Brick Committee investigation was also set to begin Sunday.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=187119 6 dec 2010, 11:02 , Respect -
Maria 6 sept 2010
Barak ordered to put probe of Galant affair on hold
Yoav Galant.
The move comes a day after the cabinet approved the appointment of GOC Southern Command Yoav Galant as the IDF's 20th chief of staff, to take over in February.
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein ordered Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday put a hold on the internal committee of inquiry he had appointed to investigate the conduct of the top army brass involved in a forged document affair concerning the incoming Israel Defense Forces chief of staff.
The move comes a day after the cabinet approved the appointment of GOC Southern Command Yoav Galant as the IDF's 20th chief of staff, to take over in February.
Galant's appointment passed with a large majority, despite a recent scandal involving a forged document suggesting the general had attempted to smear rivals and nearly put an end to his campaign.
Leaked to Channel 2 television from inside the military, the document bore the logo of a well-known public relations adviser and outlined a plan for Galant to smear rivals for the post of army chief.
Boaz Harpaz, suspected of being the man behind the Galant document, admitted to police investigators last week that he had forged the controversial document. Hapraz told investigators that he had forged the document following Barak's decision to announce the next IDF chief ahead of the scheduled date, in what Harpaz thought was a "manipulation" against incumbent Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi.
Only Improvement of Government Services Minister Michael Eitan opposed the appointment. He criticized the chief of staff-designate for his behavior as a "mafioso" during his tenure as GOC Southern Command. Eitan referred to a real estate affair involving Galant at Amikam, the moshav where the general lives, and the report prepared by the deputy attorney general, Mike Blass.
Prior to Weinstein's order, the defense minister had asked the Brick Committee investigating the affair to present its conclusions by October 7.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/barak-ordered-to-put-probe-of-galant-affair-on-hold-1.312600 6 dec 2010, 11:03 , Respect -
Maria 7 sept 2010
'Ashkenazi helped Harpaz get favorable post-IDF benefits'
A new revelation regarding the relationship between IDF chief of staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and Lt.-Col. (res.) Boaz Harpaz the alleged forger of the "Galant document" was revealed by Channel 1 on Tuesday evening.
According to Channel 1 reporter Ayala Hasson, Ashkenazi was involved several years back in assisting Harpaz in the assessment of his retirement benefits when he left active service in IDF. Because of the favorable retirement package he received, Harpaz is expected to receive millions of shekels in from the IDF. Since his retirement from active service in June 2008, Channel 1 reported that Harpaz has already received NIS 400,000 from the army.
Harpaz was reported to have also been a beneficiary of a special, unusual arrangement where he is considered to be an officer on vacation without pay and not a retired from active service.
http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=187478 7 dec 2010, 22:07 , Respect -
Maria 14 sept 2010
Incoming IDF chief Galant honored by scouts
Galant (wanted for warcrime's)
Chief of staff designate imparts words of wisdom while receiving badge of honor, draws parallels between core values of scouts, IDF.
The next chief of staff, GOC Southern Command Major General Yoav Galant, received a badge of honor from the scouts movement on Tuesday evening. Galant, who will take over from Major General Gabi Ashkenazi, was invited to the ceremony in Ramat Gan, where he spoke to those gathered there.
"Like the spirit of the IDF, which is like a moral compass for soldiers and officers, the scouts' commandments are a lighthouse guiding cadets and leaders," Galant said. "Basic values are at the core of IDF service, and soldiers draw spiritual strength from them. There is also a basic commitment to human dignity, regardless of religion, race or gender."
Galant continued to draw parallels between the values of the IDF and the scouts movement. "Those who are interested in texts will find a direct relation between responsibility and discipline," he said. "Above all are reliability and comradeship. A soldier presents things accurately, in action and in reports. He acts in brotherhood, in dedication to his comrades in arms."
"Today too, when I speak to officers at the start of their path, I present a collection of qualities crucial to a young leader: Honesty, courage and other qualities," Galant continued. "Above all integrity, because without this, the rest is meaningless."
At the beginning of last week the government confirmed Galant's appointment as the IDF's 20th chief of staff, determining that he would serve in this position for three years only. MK Michael Eitan (Likud) was the only one opposed to the nomination, citing the Amikam lands affair in which Galant was involved. Galant, he claimed, had acted like a gangster for a long period and ignored the law.
The "Galant document" affair, involving a letter apparently forged by Boaz Harpaz, is ongoing. No indictment has been filed against the suspect, and the work of the Brik Committee, appointed by Defense Minister Ehud Barak to investigate the affair, has been frozen for fear that it would disrupt legal proceedings.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3954343,00.html - 19 sept 2010
Barak offered Eizenkot to head MI for third time
GOC Northern Command Gadi Eizenkot on Thursday rejected, for a third time, an offer from Defense Minister Ehud Barak to serve as the next head of Military Intelligence. Eizenkot's negative response was received just a few hours before Barak announced the appointment of Aviv Kochavi, the former head of the General Staff Operations Directorate, to the post.
Despite the scandal caused by the so-called Galant document affair - in which two close associates of Eizenkot were involved in passing a forged document to the media - Barak is reportedly keen on the current GOC Northern Command remaining in the General Staff.
Barak's offer had also been accepted by the outgoing IDF chief of staff, Gabi Ashkenazi, as well as his designated replacement, Yoav Galant. Barak reportedly offered Eizenkot two options - head of MI or deputy chief of staff under Galant - both of which he refused. Eizenkot said he would rather remain in charge of Northern Command given the tenuous security situation on the Syrian and Lebanese borders.
Despite a number of media reports to the contrary, Eizenkot has not tried to wring a commitment from either Barak or Galant that he would be the latter's only deputy. Eizenkot's snub reportedly stems from his reluctance to work under Galant, at least until the inquiry into the Galant document concludes and definitively proves that he played no part in the campaign to discredit rivals and secure the position of army chief.
Ashkenazi, Eizenkot and a number of other top brass believe that despite police findings that Lt. Col. Boaz Harpaz - the reserve officer who admitted to forging the Galant document - acted alone, the document contains a number of indications that someone in Barak's circle may have been involved as well.
Ultimately, it was Eizenkot's intransigence that paved the way for Kochavi's appointment. Kochavi will replace Amos Yadlin, the veteran major general leaving the army in just a few months.
The officer who will serve as Galant's deputy remains unknown. One option Barak and the incoming IDF chief are considering is returning a major general from the reserves to active duty to fill the position. Among the leading candidates in that scenario is Yair Naveh, the former GOC Central Command who now heads the light rail project in Jerusalem.
Candidates still in active service include Air Force commander Ido Nechushtan and Gadi Shamni, the IDF attache in Washington.
http://bit.ly/cC0xyG - 24 sept 2010
IDF had to break into safe to find details of Harpaz resignation
In August suspicions surfaced that Lt. Col. (res. ) Boaz Harpaz forged document supposedly prepared to advise Yoav Galant in his bid to succeed IDF chief.
The Israel Defense Forces had to break into a safe in the Defense Ministry to obtain the file on the circumstances of the retirement of the reserve officer suspected of forging the so-called "Galant document." The army and the Defense Ministry were initially at loggerheads over who owned the documents.
At the end of August, suspicions surfaced that Lt. Col. (res. ) Boaz Harpaz had forged the document s
Haaretz asked the IDF Spokesman's Office about the circumstances under which Harpaz had been forced to retire from the IDF seven years ago after his alleged involvement in possessing a computer containing classified material. A few years later he challenged the conditions of his retirement, under which he was stripped of his pension.
The IDF was at first unable to fulfill journalists' request for information because the documents could not be located. They were later discovered in a safe in the IDF ombudsman's offices.
The army asked the current ombudsman, Maj. Gen. (res. ) Yitzhak Brik, for the file, but Brik said the keys to the safe were lost.
The Defense Ministry's lawyers eventually recognized the military advocate general's position that the paperss belong to the IDF, and ordered the safe be broken into to obtain them.
The IDF said the documents revealed Barazani's order that Harpaz be returned to duty for a few days, after which he would retire with his pension and the previous years would be considered unpaid leave.
http://bit.ly/aQX2wB - 1 oct 2010
Defending the home front
The next IDF chief, Yoav Galant, might be worthy of being Isrel's no. 1 soldier, but his illegal acquisition of public land for private use and development of his property questions his moral, legal integrity.
The chief of staff is Israel's No. 1 soldier. The country's security rests on his shoulders and its army is expected to follow him into battle. He should thus be a person with an impressive military record, charisma, intellect and determination.
But should the chief of staff also display outstanding integrity and be a law-abiding individual who respects his fellow citizens? The state says yes, which is why Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant's appointment to the chief of staff post was reviewed by the the Turkel committee, tasked with assessing the integrity and thus suitability of candidates for senior government positions.
Last month, the panel approved Galant. Yet, despite its lightning-fast approval, lingering doubts remain, as seen in comments by the deputy attorney general and by the Turkel committee itself. At issue is Galant's illegal acquisition of public land for private use and development of that land as an extension of his own property.
The Israel Green Movement, along with six of its national leaders, is appealing to the Supreme Court to halt the appointment. They charge that the committee was negligent in approving Galant before doing its homework. The petitioners describe how Galant took control of land against the law and consistently, and with thuggish behavior, ruthlessly and crudely trampled law and order behavior that started in 2006 and continues until this day.
The story, meticulously covered by Maariv journalist Kalman Libskind, begins in the late 1990s when Galant purchased a five-dunam lot on Moshav Amikam, near Zichron Yaakov, and built a new home. The Galants were reportedly unhappy that their driveway would cut through their own land, so they cleared a new road on public land between the neighbors homes. The neighbors complained and the head of the local planning authority ordered a cessation of the road building. Then Galant built a new road, again on public land, this time even longer. When the neighbors challenged this road, Galant produced a letter from the army stating that it was required for emergency evacuations.
Meanwhile, Galant went on to plant trees along the driveway, obstructing the neighbors views. When a neighbor tried to trim them, Galant cynically had her arrested for damaging trees. Next he cleared a parking lot, put up fencing and lighting, and extended his garden, all on publicly owned land designated as open space.
The Galants were given an additional 35 dunams of land by the Israel Lands Administration for agricultural use without going through conventional channels and, according to the Green Movement appeal, without paying. Then Galant took 28 dunams more for agriculture with no official approval. This proved too much for even the ILA, which sent a letter to Galant in 2006 demanding he uproot the trees and evacuate the additional 28 dunams. It took him two years to apologize for his mistaken cultivation of the additional land, and an additional year to remove the trees.
A paper trail of half a dozen court and local planning committee statements compiled by the Green Movement suggests that Galant systematically disregarded planning laws and procedures. But there are other important implications that go far beyond one individual exercising his political clout for personal gain.
When our military and civilian leaders show disregard for the law, the effect is a trickle-down justification of lawlessness and of cynicism that magnifies the impact of the leader's activities. As one of his neighbors tellingly revealed to Haaretz, Many people in Amikam sit on public land. The point is that we have a gentlemen's agreement that as long as it doesn't bother the neighbors, it's not a problem. A second neighbor excused Galant's actions with a blithe reference to Ariel Sharon, whose Sycamore Ranch is the largest private farm in the country, also acquiring land through questionable means.
Secondly, the lack of response to Galant's flaunting of the law also erodes faith in the public institutions that are responsible for enforcing it. When the Haifa district building supervisor requested that the authorities stop Galant from using the illegally constructed infrastructure, the man added that if this did not happen, his agency would continue losing the public's faith. But Galant persevered and created new facts on the ground and the authority of the public planning and building committees was indeed diminished.
By ignoring Galant's behavior, the effectiveness of the Turkel committee, guardian of government integrity, is also brought into doubt. Indeed by its own admission, it reached its conclusions before reviewing any of the claims regarding Galant's land grab, and despite the results of the deputy attorney general's report. In short, Galant may have been guilty of actions that call his integrity into question, but the committee assigned to investigate didn't take the time to investigate.
We need not accept this behavior from our military leaders or politicians, and we should demand of our public institutions land-use agencies, courts and government committees to fulfill their role to the public, regardless of the standing of the individual under question. As for Maj. Gen. Galant, if the Green Movement petitioners are correct, he should immediately evacuate all but his five dunams and return the rest to the public.
Dr. Daniel Orenstein is a faculty member of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies.
http://bit.ly/bAUnZR - 23 oct 2010
Barak: Launch investigation into 'Galant Document'
Following police recommendation that Harpaz be charged with aggravated forgery in affair, defense minister to ask Lindenstrauss for probe.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced Saturday night that he intended to ask State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the "Galant Document," allegedly forged by Lt.-Col. (res.) Boaz Harpaz.
Police last week recommended that Harpaz be charged with aggravated forgery for his involvement in the affair.
The defense minister also planned to ask Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to renew the Brick Committee, established by Barak, to conduct an "ethical and moral" investigation into the matter.
Barak established the committee because he was not satisfied with the conclusions of the police investigation, which found that Harpaz had forged the document by himself and had no accomplices. The defense minister also wants to investigate how and why the document was leaked to the media and whether Chief of General Staff Lt.- Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi was involved in the affair. The committee was frozen by Weinstein in September for fear that it would interfere with the ongoing police investigation into the affair.
Police formally handed over the results of the investigation into the alleged forgery of the so-called %u201CGalant document%u201D to Attorney-General Weinstein and state prosecutors on Thursday.
The forged document purports to show that Arad Communications, a public relations firm, drew up plans for a public relations campaign for OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant that would create a positive image for him and negative images for incumbent Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and another potential Ashkenazi replacement, Deputy Chief of General Staff Maj.-Gen. Benny Gantz.
The document was revealed on Channel 2 in August and presented as a leak from a credible source, promoting the investigation.
Harpaz's alleged motive was to torpedo an attempt by Barak to appoint Galant to become IDF chief of General Staff, and to make it possible for Ashkenazi to stay on as army chief.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=192494 25 jun 2011, 12:58 , Respect -
Maria 24 oct 2010
Watchdog poised to launch inquiry into Harpaz affair
State comptroller to investigate the forged document that aimed to influence the appointment of the next chief of staff.
State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss is expected to announce in the near future that his office is launching an investigation into the forged document that aimed to influence the appointment of the next chief of staff. Lt. Col. (res. ) Boaz Harpaz has been implicated in the case.
For a number of weeks the state comptroller's staff has been collecting documents and information on the affair.
The head of the Defense Desk at the State Comptroller's Office, Maj. Gen. (res. ) Ya'akov Or, is carrying out a preliminary, unofficial examination and has received much information.
On Thursday police delivered their findings to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein. The police have recommended that charges be brought against Harpaz for forgery.
Lindenstrauss is now waiting for Weinstein's decision; he will then announce which aspects of the affair his office will investigate.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced last night that he will contact Lindenstrauss this morning with a request that he "investigate this grave affair in all its aspects."
The spokesman for the state comptroller, Shlomo Raz, told Haaretz last night that the staff has been "studying the issue discreetly for a number of weeks. The state comptroller will evaluate the defense minister's request and other issues and make a fairly quick decision."
Raz added that "the inclination is to embark on an extensive probe. In view of the steps already taken, it will be possible to move quickly to begin a probe."
Sources familiar with the case added that it is possible to set up "boundaries" between the work of the state comptroller and the separate Brick committee, but Lindenstrauss will have the higher authority.
On Friday, Channel 1's Ayala Hasson reported details on the relationship between Harpaz and Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi. According to Hasson, while Ashkenazi was in private business - after his retirement from the Israel Defense Forces and before he was appointed for a brief stint as Defense Ministry director general in 2006 - he tried to assist Harpaz in various business deals. According to the report, Harpaz corresponded extensively with the wife of the chief of staff, Ronit Ashkenazi, who was partly involved in appointments at the General Staff.
Ronit Ashkenazi, according to Channel 1, and Harpaz exchanged around 150 text messages, some about General Staff appointments.
In one instance, according to the report, the two discussed the promotion of an officer who had commanded the elite Sayeret Matkal reconnaissance unit to brigadier general. But in the end the matter did not progress. The report claims that the officer in question had been involved years earlier in the investigation into Harpaz while he served in intelligence units.
Hasson referred to a Haaretz story that Harpaz had sought to be allowed back into intelligence and be promoted to colonel, even though he had been forced out of the IDF because of field security violations, and his security clearance had been lowered.
The IDF Spokesman's Office denied that there had been efforts to bring Harpaz back to Military Intelligence, describing the story as baseless.
According to Channel 1, the Harpaz case was investigated by three committees in the army, and despite the severity of his transgressions, Ashkenazi and former Military Intelligence chief Amos Malka intervened on his behalf so he could leave the army with a full pension and benefits.
Harpaz said he could not comment on matters involving the investigation.
http://bit.ly/9jjbqT - 26 oct 2010
State comptroller to look into Galant affair
Micha Lindenstrauss to launch official probe following Defense Minister Barak's request; IDF welcomes news.
State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss announced Tuesday that he will launch an official investigation into the Galant affair, following a petition to that effect by Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
The comptroller said that he intends to probe all aspects of the affair.
Barak petitioned the comptroller for an investigation into the affair several days ago, but even before his request, the State Comptroller's Office was preparing a discreet investigation into the issue.
Senior IDF officers welcomed Lindenstrauss' decision to launch an official investigation into the Galant affair.
The State Comptroller's Office revealed that IDF officers have already passed various documents to the comptroller for review.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3975117,00.html - 11 nov 2010
Harpaz, fired from IDF in 2004, had checkered history of improprieties
Lt. Col. (res.) Boaz Harpaz at his home last night. Harpaz was allegedly involved in leaking the forged Galant document.
While many witnesses said Harpaz was devoted to his job and made a great contribution to the unit, Barzani noted, he also antagonized many senior officers by what they deemed "aggressive and manipulative" conduct.
Lt. Col. Boaz Harpaz, the suspected forger of a document that apparently aimed to thwart Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant's appointment as the next chief of staff, was let go from the Israel Defense Forces in 2004 due to suspicions that he leaked a classified document and committed other irregularities. But it turns out that his dismissal involved kid-glove treatment and a series of bizarre decisions.
Harpaz, who is considered close to outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, began his career army service in 1988. Ten years later, he was appointed operations officer of a sensitive Military Intelligence department and promoted to lieutenant colonel.
In late 2002, according to testimony gathered by Haaretz, he took a one-year unpaid leave. Shortly beforehand, he wrote to then-Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon alleging problems in the conduct of the unit he served in. He did not send a copy of the letter to Aharon Zeevi-Farkash, then the head of MI.
In December 2003, MI discovered that the letter to Ya'alon, which contained highly sensitive classified information, had been leaked. Upon investigating, it discovered that this classified letter had been written on Harpaz's computer.
MI's director of information security, who headed the investigation, subsequently wrote that Harpaz cooperated only minimally with the probe, and in fact actively tried to obstruct it by "deletions, changes and falsifications to blur the findings on his computer." Moreover, the probe concluded that Harpaz was quite likely the leaker. For both reasons, the investigator ultimately recommended his suspension from MI.
But despite the suspicions against Harpaz, Brig. Gen. Moshe Shehory, then MI's chief intelligence officer, asked the military advocate general not to open a criminal investigation of him. The MAG's office agreed, but on condition that Harpaz cooperate with the still ongoing probe.
MI did tell Harpaz he would be kicked out of the intelligence corps unless he took a polygraph test to prove his innocence. But Harpaz refused to do so, saying his attorney had warned him that the test could wrongly find him guilty, and if so, he would find it hard to prove his innocence.
A month later, following a meeting with Harpaz, Shehory sent the following letter to Farkash: "Boaz [Harpaz] said he understands the damage he has caused and expresses regret, apologies and sorrow. Given this, it seems to me you should reconsider your decision. It's true the officer did not live up to the standards we acknowledge, but it looks and sounds to me like he understands he erred, he's sorry for it, and therefore, we should use our intuition."
Shehory did recommend that Harpaz face disciplinary charges and be ousted from the specific unit in which he served. But he was charged only with failing to follow army regulations, and his punishment was a mere reprimand.
Soon afterward, in January 2004, Harpaz met with Farkash, who informed him of his ouster from the unit. The two of them agreed that Harpaz would take a study leave at the army's expense until summer 2004, and would then begin a year of unpaid leave.
While Harpaz was on his study leave, new suspicions arose against him: In August 2004, Shehory ordered a new probe into an incident in Harpaz's former unit, and that probe concluded that Harpaz's use of certain tools that his job had placed at his disposal involved "systemic and disciplinary failures." The probe also deemed Harpaz's behavior "negligent." Nevertheless, no steps were taken against him.
At about the same time, MI received additional worrying information about Harpaz: Though he was supposed to be studying at the army's expense from February to July 2004, in fact, he was not enrolled in any course and had spent no fewer than 86 days abroad.
When questioned, Harpaz said his frequent trips abroad were necessitated by a family member's health problems. And once again, MI decided not to take any steps against him.
In October 2004, Harpaz met with Shehory, who urged him to leave the army. If he agreed, Shehory said, he would be paid all the special benefits normally given officers who leave mid-career. Yet MI could have terminated his employment without paying him these benefits: Army rules permit this when someone is suspected of a criminal offense or has violated the norms of conduct expected of a soldier, and both seemingly apply to Harpaz.
Harpaz agreed to leave, but on one condition: That the case of the leaked letter to Ya'alon be closed with no further action.
Five days later, Harpaz's wife wrote to Ya'alon and complained about his dismissal. A copy of the letter was sent to Farkash.
A draft version of Farkash's reply states that aside from the leaked document, "other flaws" had been found in Harpaz's work, and "he even concealed information from IDF bodies that investigated" the leak. Moreover, the army had recently begun reevaluating his security clearance, but Harpaz "was not cooperating" with the Shin Bet security service on this process, Finally, Farkash noted, the terms of Harpaz's dismissal were generous, "despite his grave actions, which entailed a serious moral lapse."
Some MI staffers did wonder why Harpaz was being given such kid-glove treatment, and one department head even wrote the MAG's office to ask "whether given the serious allegations against Harpaz, it is fitting to release him [from the army] under a procedure that grants him special benefits." But the MAG ultimately decided to let these benefits stand.
In December 2004, Harpaz was informed that his security clearance would be lowered for "giving information to an unauthorized party." Harpaz appealed, and in August 2005, following negotiations between his lawyer and a Shin Bet appeals committee, the committee rescinded this decision. Instead, it affirmed his "top secret" clearance, said he could apply for defense jobs requiring an even higher clearance, and promised to approve his application should he seek a Defense Ministry license to engage in arms dealing.
Then, in January 2006, Harpaz asked Ya'alon's successor as chief of staff, Dan Halutz, to review his case, saying he had suffered serious injustice - including his dismissal from the army - due to "persecution" by Farkash. Farkash's successor as head of MI, Amos Yadlin, asked IDF ombudsman Avner Barzani to investigate the complaint.
Barzani concluded that Harpaz's complaint was justified. If the army sees fit, Barzani wrote, he should be reinstated in active service, and if not, he should be viewed as having been on unpaid leave from the IDF since 2004, and remain in that status until he is old enough to retire.
Barzani's main reason for this conclusion was that despite the suspicions against Harpaz, "the army authorities chose, for various reasons, not to exhaust the investigative process into these suspicions - and certainly they resulted in no legal proceedings, aside from the disciplinary trial." MI, he noted, even agreed to send Harpaz on paid study leave despite his refusal to take a polygraph test to dispel the "heavy cloud" he was under.
If the suspicions against Harpaz warranted dismissal, Barzani said, then they warranted dismissing him without the extra benefits. But if these suspicions were not serious enough to justify dismissing him without benefits, then it is hard to see how they justify dismissing him at all.
Moreover, Barzani wrote, based on the evidence he gathered, he cannot rule out the possibility that the handling of Harpaz's case was indeed "directly or indirectly influenced by Maj. Gen. Farkash's personal grievance against him over the officer's having written that critical document about the classified [MI] unit and sent it to the chief of staff."
While many witnesses said Harpaz was devoted to his job and made a great contribution to the unit, Barzani noted, he also antagonized many senior officers by what they deemed "aggressive and manipulative" conduct.
Barzani acknowledged Harpaz's refusal to take a polygraph test and the suspicions that he obstructed the probe of the leaked document. Nevertheless, he wrote, while "the officer may have erred ... my impression from the evidence presented to me is that he had no malicious intent toward the conduct of the investigation."
Finally, he said, his decision was influenced by the testimony of "senior officers, including Maj. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and Maj. Gen. Amos Malka, who raised doubts about the justice of the officer's dismissal."
Today, Harpaz is out on bail while awaiting the attorney general's decision on whether to indict him over the Galant document, which Defense Minister Ehud Barak has termed "an attempted putsch." His bail terms include a ban on talking to the media for 180 days, which an associate said was imposed after police discovered that he still possesses highly classified information.
http://bit.ly/9PeLBq