Israeli army panicked by Winograd report

Senior members of the Zionist regime's war department were fearful Tuesday that harsh criticism of Israeli Occupation forces (IOF) in the final Winograd report would hurt the army's image and lower motivation to serve, Army Radio reported.

 

According to the radio report, most of the criticism in the final report was expected to be aimed at the members of the IOF's General Staff during the war, and specifically their head, former Israeli army chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. (res.) Dan Halutz .

 

"The political and operational echelons were led by an army chief who was captivated by a certain conception," Maj.-Gen (res.) Eyal Ben-Reuven, who served as Deputy OC Northern Command during the war, told Israel Radio.

 

In his opinion, Israel's decision makers followed Halutz blindly because they did not have the leadership capabilities to guide his actions. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert should take personal responsibility for his failures and resign, Ben-Reuven said.

 

Meanwhile, Kadima MK Otniel Schneller said Tuesday that "if the [Winograd] report implies unequivocally that Olmert must step down, then we are sure that he will draw the right conclusions."