Ashkenazi: Galant has all the necessary skills, experience

IDF chief takes "full responsibility' for flotilla, says not surprised army wasn't involved in Galant affair; Givati soldiers acted against war doctrine.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
ashkenazi 311 (photo credit: IDF Spokesperson)
ashkenazi 311
(photo credit: IDF Spokesperson)
IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi expressed his full faith in Maj.- Gen. Yoav Galant on Tuesday morning, saying that his replacement has "all of the skills and experience to take the IDF wherever it needs to go."
Speaking to Army Radio, Ashkenazi added that Galant should "expect a great deal of work and challenges that are not simple," but added that he believes his successor "understands his job and is making serious preparations for the new role."
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Discussing the Galant document, a forged letter designed to undermine the selection process for the next chief of general staff, Ashkenazi said he "was not surprised by the police determination that nobody in the army was a part of bringing the document into the world."
Later in the interview, the IDF chief discussed the Gaza flotilla incident, saying that he "takes full responsibility" for the operation aboard the Mavi Marmara. He added, "I sent the soldiers there and I knew what they were intending to do there."
Ashkenazi also touched on the recent conviction of two Givati soldiers for using a Palestinian child as a human shield during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip nearly two years ago. He said that they "did not act according to the war doctrine," adding that he always prefers to deal with these issues administratively and not criminally but that in exceptional cases, "we were forced to deal with them." He said that there has never been an investigation like that which took place after the Gaza operation.


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