MK Shai: Probe 'Galant Document'

Despite controversy, Barak to continue interviews as planned.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Galant 298 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Galant 298
(photo credit: Courtesy)
MK Nachman Shai (Kadima) asked the Attorney General Saturday to investigate the "Galant document," which outlines a PR campaign designed to secure the position of IDF Chief of Staff for Maj. Gen Yoav Galant. It is unclear whether the document is authentic.
Despite the controversy, Defense Minister Ehud Barak will continue to conduct his planned interviews for the position, meeting tomorrow (Sunday) with Deputy Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, who is under consideration for the role.
RELATED:'PR campaign for next IDF chief'Opinion: Border battles
Barak hails Ashkenazi...meets his would-be successors
Race is on for next chief of staff
MK Shai said the Chief of Staff appointment "should not be made prematurely at this point," until the origin of the document could be determined. "Because of its importance, the police should check the authenticity of the document."
Strategic communication expert Eyal Arad denied a report on Channel 2 that his office had prepared the document, calling the document a forgery.
The document, containing the logo of the company Arad Communications operated by Eyal Arad and Lior Horev, discussed the need to create a positive image around Galant and creating negative images for current chief-of-staff Gabi Ashkenazi and another potential Ashkenazi replacement, Maj. Gen. Benny Gantz.
Alternatively, the document presented a possibility of promoting Gantz through the media as a replacement for Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) head Yuval Diskin "and, thus, would be unable to compete for the chief-of-staff position," Channel 2 reported.
With respect to Ashkenazi, the author of the public relations campaign advised "developing a profile of a disgruntled [public official]," like former Likud minister David Levy and as someone who tends to take offense easily.
Eyal Arad, Arad Communications president and strategist, denied the Channel 2 report and alleged that the document was forged. "Anyone could have downloaded the company's logo from the internet," he said.
According to Arad, no one at his company prepared the document, and the firm has nothing to do with the ideas presented in the Channel 2 expose. "I invite investigators to come and check the company computers to find that this document was never written here," Arad stated.