Israel's General Staff worries Barak may do something rash
By Steve Rodan, Middle East Newsline
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, January 10, 2001
TEL AVIV — Israel's military brass is quietly fretting over the
prospect of an election surprise during the race for prime minister between
incumbent Ehud Barak and his challenger Ariel Sharon.
Military sources said several members of the General Staff have
privately expressed concern that Barak might order a military offensive
against the Palestinians or Hizbullah over the next few weeks until
elections on Feb. 6. Barak is trailing badly at the polls and the sources
said his advisers are urging the prime minister to project a tough image on
defense.
The generals were said to have been dismayed by statements from Barak's
office and the prime minister himself of an imminent threat of regional war
sparked by escalating tension along the northern border. Military sources
said Barak's campaign advisers quoted the prime minister — who is also
defense minister — from a closed meeting with the General Staff on the need
for preparations for war.
"There are several alternatives, one of them is the possibility of war,"
National Security Council deputy director Gideon Sheffer said. "The chance
that this happens has not increased over the last few days."
The sources said Barak has also demanded from Chief of Staff Lt. Gen.
Shaul Mofaz a list of targets in Palestinian areas in retaliation for the
bombing last month in Netanya. Mofaz has been rebuffed in previous requests
for harsh strikes against Palestinian Authority targets on grounds that this
would hurt Israel's image in the international community.
"We present plans for the inner cabinet's approval, but the inner
Cabinet rejects them," Mofaz told Jewish settlement leaders on Nov. 22.
Barak, the sources said, has also given the military greater leeway in
fighting the mini-war against the Palestinians. This includes a relaxation
of orders to open fire on Palestinian forces, closure of the territories and
the denial of PA officials the right to enter Israel.
The concern by the generals, the sources said, is that Barak will order
an offensive that is meant to bolster the standing of the prime minister in
the polls. They said Barak appears to consult with his campaign advisers
more than he does with Mofaz and particularly his deputy, Maj. Gen. Moshe
Yaalon.
Yaalon is said to be on Barak's bad side. Yaalon has repeatedly warned
that the mini-war would continue unless Israel takes harsh steps to punish
PA Chairman Yasser Arafat and his chief aides. Military sources said Yaalon
and senior commanders are convinced that Israel could have ended the
violence in mid-October had Barak followed the recommendations of the
military.
The sources said Barak has his favorites on the General Staff. They said
some of them — such as Maj. Gen. Giora Eiland, head of the operations
directorate — are sent to the United States to brief U.S. officials and
Jewish groups. In contrast, Yaalon and the head of research at military
intelligence, Brig. Gen. Amos Gilead, have been marginalized.
The military brass has complained to Barak that it has been unable to
obtain his approval for major decisions regarding preparations for a
regional war. These include decisions on senior appointments, the formation
of new combat units and budget questions.
At issue, the military sources said, is budget funding. The military is
seeking as much as 5 billion shekels [$1.2 billion] for war preparations
while Barak is considering providing about 2 billion shekels.
Last month, Mofaz promoted two officers to the General Staff, bringing
the number of major generals in active service to 22, the largest in
decades. Brig. Gen. Eyal Ben-Reuven, 46, was promoted to commander of a
corps, and will be promoted to major general. Brig. Gen. Dan Harel, 45, was
appointed to commander of operations and will also be promoted.
Wednesday, January 10, 2001
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