Israel chooses new army chief
2007-01-22 11:04
Jerusalem - A retired general with years of experience fighting Lebanon's Hezbollah has been chosen as the new chief of Israel's armed forces, Israeli media reported on Monday.
Gaby Ashkenazy, 52, an infantry commander and currently
director of the defence ministry, will replace Lieutenant-General Dan Halutz who quit last week over his failure to crush Hezbollah in the July-August war, they said.
Israel Radio and the Yedioth Ahronoth daily said a formal
announcement of the appointment could be made later in the day
after a meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and defence minister Amir Peretz.
Peretz has said he supports Ashkenazy who served extensively
in southern Lebanon and headed the army's northern command in
the final years before Israeli troops, after constant attacks by
Hezbollah fighters, withdrew in 2000.