MARK WEISS in Jerusalem
DEFENCE MINISTER Ehud Barak has appointed Maj Gen Yoav Galant, the head of the army’s southern command, as Israel’s new military chief of staff.
Maj Gen Galant (52) is a former head of Israel’s naval commando unit. As head of southern command, he masterminded the 22-day war in Gaza in the winter of 2008-2009.
The cabinet is expected to approve the appointment next week and Gen Galant will take up the post early next year.
Top of his agenda will be the possibility of an Israeli military strike to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear bomb.
The defence minister’s selection of the new military commander was put on hold earlier this month because of what was dubbed the “Galant document” – a memo allegedly written by Maj Gen Galant to smear other top generals contending for the job.
But a police investigation determined last week that the document was a fake and Maj Gen Galant had nothing to do with it.
Also yesterday, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu vowed that the 10-month freeze on West Bank settlement construction would end on September 26th.
Pressed on the issue by ministers from his ruling Likud party, Mr Netanyahu said there has been no change in his position that the moratorium will not be renewed when the 10-month period expires next month.
Mr Netanyahu leads a largely right-wing and religious coalition which is committed to Jewish settlement across the West Bank. He warned extending the 10-month moratorium would endanger the future of his government.
Two moderate ministers have proposed a compromise under which building will only continue in the larger West Bank settlement blocs – areas which Israel hopes to incorporate under a final peace agreement.
Such a policy, which is likely to meet stiff opposition from other ministers, is similar to that adopted by the previous Israeli government headed by Ehud Olmert.
Despite the difficulties, Mr Netanyahu declared that the optimistic target set by US secretary of state Hilary Clinton for reaching a comprehensive peace deal within a year was possible.
He said compromises would be required from both sides.
The prime minister said any deal must provide real security for Israel and a solution to the refugee problem within a future Palestinian state, and include Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, and an “end of conflict” clause.
Coppied by http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/0823/1224277380241.html
