IDF Chief of
Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz told a senior military forum that the State
Comptroller's report on the Harpaz affair marked "a sad day for the IDF, the
state of Israel, citizens, and everyone who was close to the affair."
The report
charted a feud between Defense Minister Ehud Barak and former chief of staff,
Lt.-Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi, which culminated in a forged document that was
leaked to the press.
"I don't intend to be a judge between the sides involved in
this report, and I will handle my area in the IDF," Gantz said, speaking at the
start of the General Staff's investigation into November's Operation Pillar of
Defense.
"Lines were crossed and improper steps were taken in functional and
ethical terms," the chief of staff added.
Gantz said that he could not accept such conduct, despite his high
regard of the people involved in the affair.