The chief of staff of the IDF, Gen. Dan Halutz conducted a hearing for commander of the Galilee division, Colonel Gal Hirsch (in photo), earlier today. The hearing came in the wake of the report issued by an investigative comittee headed by retired Gen. Doron Almog which investiagted the war with Hezbollah which raged last July and August and whose repercussions are still felt in the IDF and the Israeli political arena.
The Almog comittee found Colonel Hirsch responsible for the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah on July 12th, an attack which initiated the war last summer. As a result, Col. Hirsch announced his impending resignation from the IDF.
Gen. Halutz expressed his views that Col. Hirsch should not resign and his appreciation for his overall qualities as a commander. Col. Hirsch has stated that he does not view himself responsible for the kidnapping, though the two soldiers were members of his division. On behalf of Col. Hirsch testified numerous officers who served with and under him during the last war and before it. Should Gen. Halutz choose to reject the conclusions of the Almog comittee, it is likely that Hirsch will retract his resignation.
It is unclear how such a retraction will be accepted by the Israeli public, as polls show general disapproval of Hirsch and Halutz himself.
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