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Sunday, February 21, 2010     GET REAL

Israeli leadership at odds over extension for popular chief of staff

TEL AVIV — Israel's military chief is being urged to remain in his post because of rising threats and the prospect of war in 2010.   

Israeli parliamentarians and ministers have pressed Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi to stay in his post for a fifth year. The politicians were said to have pledged to support Ashkenazi to continue as military chief should he agree, Middle East Newsline reported.

Ashkenazi was scheduled to complete his term in February 2011. But several ministers, apparently with the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have urged Ashkenazi to consider remaining an additional term.


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Defense Minister Ehud Barak has sought to replace Ashkenazi. At least four senior commanders were being considered as a successor, including Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Benny Gantz.

"There is a consensus that we can't change the CoS right now," an official said.

Israel's media have reported that Ashkenazi agreed to stay on for a fifth term. The media said Ashkenazi has concluded that none of the candidates for succession was suitable for the post.

Barak aides have expressed outrage over the reports. They said the defense minister ordered the Israeli military to issue a denial that Ashkenazi was being considered for a fifth term.

"An extension of the chief of staff's term is irrelevant at this stage and is not something the IDF is dealing with," an Israeli military statement said on Feb. 10. "The army was not involved in this report."

Ashkenazi and Barak were said to be barely on speaking terms. The Israeli daily Haaretz reported that Barak was concerned that the popular Ashkenazi would enter politics.

Israeli military chiefs normally serve four years, divided into two terms. Rarely, has a chief of staff remained for a longer period.



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