Reservist letter may be politically motivated

Among signatories of letter calling for seperation of military from politics are Kadima activists.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
reserve off 88 298 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
reserve off 88 298
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
A letter signed by 85 IDF reserve officers and passed on to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak late Sunday may have been politically motivated, Army Radio reported Monday. In the letter, the officers say they are against attempts to tie the military with political interests. "The use of [military] uniform to express political protest is a dangerous thing in a democratic state and should be rejected," it says. "We all witness the work being done to strengthen the military and upgrade its capabilities. This should continue in a professional manner, away from the influence of any political arguments," the letter continues. But among the names of the officers were also several Kadima activists and Jerusalem municipality workers who served under Olmert during his term as mayor of the city. The letter was sent in response to a letter sent to Olmert last week by several platoon commanders where, the officers called on him to accept responsibility after the Winograd report is published, and not to overrule in advance the possibility that he might have to resign. Col. [Res.] Dubi Amitai told Army Radio he added his name to the letter after the Prime Minister's Office called him and asked him to; Olmert's office denies being the source of the petition. David Einhorn, who lost his son Yonatan during the Second Lebanon War, told the station that if indeed the Prime Minister's Office was involved - it was a testimony to what really occupied the time of Olmert's people: "Instead of dealing with the essence - national responsibility, leadership - what do [they] deal with? getting people to sign petitions for Olmert. Should this be the prime minister's main concern?"