JERUSALEM, 17 February 2005 — Israel’s 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 Parliament easily approved the pullout plan in a key vote yesterday, though it still needs a series of Cabinet approvals.
The curt dismissal of Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, announced in the middle of the night, triggered wall-to-wall criticism yesterday, 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 public.
After a two-day debate, the Parliament approved the pullout plan in a 59-40 vote after nightfall yesterday. The vote reflected the unusual alignment in the Parliament, with dovish opposition members backing the pullout, while rebels from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s own Likud party voting against.
The plan still faces a procedural Cabinet vote on Sunday, followed by separate votes on each phase of the planned withdrawal.
In the West Bank, Palestinian officials said Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has formed a new Cabinet, including appointments of allies in key positions, such as the interior and foreign ministries. The Cabinet was to be presented to Parliament next week for approval, the officials said.
In Gaza, Palestinians fired two mortar rounds at the Jewish settlement of Morag. No injuries or damage were reported, but the attacks threatened the fragile truce.
Also yesterday, Jordan announced it would return its ambassador to Israel next week, after a four-year absence.
Yaalon was told by Mofaz late Tuesday that his three-year term, which is up in July, would not be extended by another year, as is customary in the military. Mofaz’ decision amounted to a dismissal, since Yaalon had requested the extension, and such a request is traditionally approved in the military.
Yaalon, widely referred to by his nickname Boogie, has also been credited for leading a successful campaign against Palestinians during more than four years of fighting. Yaalon reportedly enraged Sharon when he said Israel’s harsh measures increased Palestinian hatred and violence.
Commentators described Yaalon as pragmatic. At one point, the army chief warned Israeli politicians not to trust Arafat, and criticized Shimon Peres for visiting the veteran Palestinian leader in Gaza after violence erupted in Sept. 2000. He also called the 1993 interim peace accords a “Trojan horse,” but then repeatedly backed making generous goodwill gestures to strengthen more moderate Palestinian leaders, such as Abbas.
Likud lawmaker Yuval Steinitz, who heads Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said the poor personal relations between Mofaz and Yaalon were “no secret.” Steinitz also had several public arguments with Yaalon, yet said he was “not happy” about the decision.
“Boogie Yaalon was a good chief of staff, and I say this despite the differences of opinion, sometimes serious ones, that I have had with him during the past few years,” Steinitz told Israel Army Radio. Yaalon, he added, was one of the “most intelligent, thoughtful and talented chiefs of staff in the history of Israel.” Just before Sharon announced his plan to unilaterally withdraw from all Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements, Yaalon made clear he was opposed to any unilateral moves. At one point, Sharon reportedly was angry because he felt Yaalon was not giving enough support to the plan.
The withdrawal plan sets aside about 4 billion shekels ($918.4 million) to compensate Jewish settlers who will be forced to leave their homes, and in some cases their jobs.
Meanwhile, Washington’s newly appointed Middle East security coordinator, US Gen. William Ward, held talks yesterday with Abbas as he began his mission to the region.
The pair held around an hour-long meeting at Abbas’ offices in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said. “We informed him of all the steps that the Palestinians are taking after the Sharm El-Sheikh summit,” Abu Rudeina told reporters.
“Gen. Ward said that the US administration was ready to help the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian people to build the security foundations, and that he would return in a few weeks for more talks.”
— With input from agencies
