Israeli Army Chief to Leave Post

[Englander]

Wednesday February 16, 2005 12:01 PM

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's hardline defense minister unexpectedly cut short the term of his outspoken army chief, with a new commander to take over just days before the start of a planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip this summer.

The curt dismissal of Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, announced in the middle of the night, triggered wall-to-wall criticism Wednesday, with many politicians and commentators accusing Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz of endangering the Gaza pullback because of personal tensions with his army chief.

Yaalon, widely seen as a successful commander, has frequently criticized government policy in the past, saying its harsh measures increased Palestinian hatred and violence.

Israel's parliament was expected to give final approval to the pullout plan later Wednesday, after a two-day debate. Some 70 of 120 legislators were to vote in favor, while about 40 lawmakers were to vote no, including more than a dozen from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Likud Party.


More at;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4803961,00.html

[Name removed]

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[barbaraann]

2. There's a Yahoo story. Maybe should be on LBN.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=1312&e=3&u=/ap/20050216/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians_13