Sharon fumes at IDF chief; Ya'alon reassures Mofaz

[Aidoneus]

Last Update: 29/10/2003 23:22
Sharon fumes at IDF chief; Ya'alon reassures Mofaz
By Aluf Benn, Amos Harel and Uzi Benziman

Sharon fuming at Ya'alon's criticism of Israeli policy in West Bank; Chief of Staff: Comments reflected different opinions within IDF.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon spoke Wednesday with Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, and expressed his anger at comments made by IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon, who was quoted in the Wednesday editions of several newspapers as backing criticism of the government’s policy toward the Palestinians.

Ya'alon said that Israel’s treatment of former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas was mistaken, and that Israel contributed to the fall of the Palestinian government by not making enough good-will gestures. The Prime Minister’s Office was furious at the Chief of Staff’s comments, calling the comments "extremely serious."

One source in the PMO said that, given the severity of the comments, Ya’alon’s only way out would be to apologize or resign. "Ya’alon never made his opinion known in any of the discussion that we held, and despite the fact that every door remains open to him, he chose to speak to the press. Beyond that, his claims are not correct."

--snip--

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/355231.html

[tinnypriv]

1. As I said in another thread

If you're not for easing the "closure" (several on DU are not), then you're to the right of the IDF Chief of Staff.

I'm not sure that is a place anybody wants to be ;-)

[bluesoul]

2. Woohoo

I am shocked! Now even those high ranked among the IDF! There is still hope people! :bounce: :toast:

[The Magistrate]

10. Gen. Ya'alon Is Wise, Mr. Priv

His message here ought to be heeded. Military action can be counter-productive, even in conventional war; history is littered with examples. In a guerrilla conflict, which is always more a political contest than a military one, this likelihood is even more pronounced. My own view that these actions are a legitimate act of war, with some real effect of interdiction, is not an endorsement of their wisdom: whether one has a right to do something, and whether it is the right thing to do, are seperate questions.

[Resistance]

14. some

have even argued that Sharon isn't aggressive enough **cough-muddleoftheroad-cough*

[tinnypriv]

16. I wouldn't dare to single anybody out

But it is pretty clear that the "one hand behind our backs" argument is standard fare for reactionary lunatics.

[The Magistrate]

17. It Is A Foolish Argument, Mr. Priv

Whoever advances it. The idea there can be a "pure" exercise of military force, without political consideration of any kind, has been long rendered obsolete by alterations in the patterns of governance, and even in the organization of societies themselves. It is quite clear the Israeli military uses all the force that the traffic will bear, both domestically and in foreign quarters, and then maybe a little more.

[dudeness]

3. the stress of continued conflict

is taking its toll..whilst the peoples of both Israel and Palestine suffer daily..the charade of unified governments continues to be exposed..dissention of this magnitude can only be seen as a positive and provide imputus to achieve the objective of a peaceful resolution.

[sushi]

4. I agree

Life must be stressful for everybody, on both sides. I wonder how much valium is sold there. Why does it always take sooo looong for people to realize that they have to negotiate. Of course Israel could "get rid" of all the Palestinians, but if they did that how can they live with themselves.

[ForestsBeatBushes]

7. I apologize for not having a source; I have to go on memory here.

I do recall reading something a while back in some newspaper about Israelis taking more anti-anxiety medications than any other population. That's funny in a 'non-funny' way when you think of all the 'normal neurotics' in the USA downing the pills just to cope with the kids or jobs and so on.

[sushi]

19. That is easy to believe

If I lived there I would have to be out of it to get through the day! I think I'd have left long ago.

[IndianaGreen]

5. Sounds like Moshe Ya'alon will be running for office soon

IDF generals usually end up running for political office. Most of Israel's prime ministers made their mark in the IDF before going into politics.

Sounds like Moshe Ya'alon will be running for office soon.

[Adalah]

6. Let's never lose hope

that more moderate leaders will come to power. After all, Bush's approval ratings were 90% once upon a time.

[ForestsBeatBushes]

8. Hope is all we have!

It would seem logical that as the Israeli population becomes less terrified, they will vote their hopes rather than their fears.

[bluesoul]

9. Yeah

And put Sharon out of power forever...

[Adalah]

11. Fear

The Palestinian terrorist groups have been successful in instilling fear into Israelis. Their miscalculation, as I see it, was believing the fear would drive Israel toward granting a Palestinian state. Instead, it bolstered the support of Sharon.

[bemildred]

12. Story has been updated.

This is getting good ...

Shalom, Olmert support Ya'alon's statements against gov't

European officials were puzzled that the IDF
chief, who is generally expected to present a
hawkish viewpoint, expresses views that are
more rational, humanistic and moralistic than
the government's, Israel Radio reported
Thursday.

---

Senior officials close to Ya'alon suggested
earlier that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's
aides, in advising him to criticize the IDF
Chief of Staff, were trying to divert public
attention away from Sharon's police questioning
on bribery suspicions due to take place
Thursday, Army Radio reported.

The Prime Minister's Office said that Sharon
will make do with the meeting held between
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and Ya'alon on
Wedneday and will take no further action in the
matter, Israel Radio reported Thursday.

Same Haaretz link as in original post.

[bluesoul]

13. yeah

When the hawks start questioning certain things, you know there's something going on..

[Resistance]

15. maybe they are just tired

of regularly murdering innocent people

[sushi]

18. I hope you're right

It's good news that, finally, some of them realize they're wrong, and hopefully they'll succeed in persuading their PM to change policy. The arms manufacturers won't like it, but the people will, except for the extremists among them.

[Aidoneus]

20. more interesting remarks from Ya'alon

Lieutenant-General Moshe Ya'alon also told Israeli journalists in an off-the-record briefing that the army was opposed to the route of the "security fence" through the West Bank. The government also contributed to the fall of the former Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, by offering only "stingy" support for his attempts to end the conflict, he said.

--snip--

The general warned that the continued curfews, reoccupation of towns and severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinians, combined with the economic crisis they have caused, were increasing the threat to Israel's security.

"In our tactical decisions, we are operating contrary to our strategic interest," Gen Ya'alon said. "It increases hatred for Israel and strengthens the terror organisations."

Earlier this week, army commanders in the West Bank told the military administration in the occupied territories that Palestinians had reached new depths of despair, which was fuelling a hatred for Israeli that had little to do with the propaganda so often blamed by the government.

--snip--

He said the military had warned that the fence, which digs deep into Palestinian territory, caging some towns and villages and cutting farmers off from their land, will make the lives of some Palestinians "unbearable" and require too many soldiers to guard it.

Further questions were raised yesterday after the chairman of parliament's defence budget committee revealed that the cost of the fence could triple to £1.3bn - or 3% of the national budget - if Mr Sharon fulfils his plan for the fence to run around Jewish settlements and the length of the Jordan valley so that it encircles the bulk of the Palestinian population.

--snip--

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1074780,00.html

Olmert's support of Ya'alon is a surprise, he's Pat Robertson's partner in crime (so to speak). Taking guesses at the otherwise-hawkish Ya'alon's motivation here is an interesting exercise; perhaps he senses that Team Sharon's ship is going down (at the least, it doesn't seem to have much wind in its sails), and assumes there is political capital to be gained by taking shots at his monsterous failures?

[The Magistrate]

21. There Is Always The Possibility, My Friend

He is simply delivering a genuine professional's judgement. That is what he ought to do, as Chief of Staff, if what he is being told to do by his political leadership is likely to fail.

That his analysis is accurate cannot sensibly be denied, particularly in relation to the government and fate of Mr. Abbas, and to the erection of the barrier on its current course. Gen. Ya'alon is certainly best situated to judge the balance between the military efficacy and the political detriment of other policies he denounces.

My expertise in the internals of Israeli politics is insufficient for me to know if this means he is contemplating a run against Sharon, but it does sound like he would be better as a leader for Israel than that wretched reptile. He would certainly be credible as a "strong man" to those moved by need for one, and it would not surprise me if a decided majority of Israeli citizens agree with the views he has expressed: they are, after all, little more than common sense draped in gold braid and epaulets.

[tinnypriv]

22. Makes sense

20 infrantry battalions is the estimated number required to guard the wall. :eyes:

70,000 Palestinians on the Israeli side too.