Israeli general resigns over Lebanon conflict
The Israeli public were critical over the way the conflict was handled
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Sunday, 12, Nov 2006 02:06
An Israeli general who led troops in this summer's conflict with neighbouring Lebanon has offered to resign.
Brigadier General Gal Hirsch, who commanded the unit whose soldiers were attacked by Hizbullah guerrillas which sparked the conflict in July, made the decision early this morning.
But Lieutenant General Dan Halutz has called on General Hirsch to reconsider his decision to quit his senior position in the Israeli army.
According to local reports, Doron Almog, a retired general who is investigating the incident on July 12th, was expected to recommend today that General Hirsch should be sacked.
General Almog's report criticises General Hirsch's lack of preparation for the border attack by Hezbollah which saw three soldiers killed while two others are still in captivity.
But analysts have insisted that Lt Gen Halutz would not have dismissed the highly regarded General Hirsch despite General Almog's recommendation.
General Hirsch, who was responsible for patrolling Israeli's northern border, told the local Maariv newspaper that the findings of the report were unfair.
"To say I don't deserve to be a commander is quite absurd. I don't deserve this," he said.
He is the second senior military figure to resign over the 34-day conflict which resulted in more than 1,200 Lebanese and 157 Israeli deaths.
Udi Adam, who headed the army's northern command, resigned in September after Hizbullah launched thousands of rockets into Israel.