Barak: Intelligence community not at fault for Schalit situation

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Responding to criticism over the prolonged captivity of kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Schalit, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Sunday that the intelligence community was not at fault. "I suggest that we keep this kind of talk to a minimum," Barak told ministers during the weekly cabinet meeting. "There is no intelligence failure." "Yes, there isn't enough intelligence to bring [Schalit] home, but we are continuing to act decisively for his return," the defense minister continued. "The more we keep this talk to a minimum, the better it will be." On Saturday, Minister-without-Portfolio and former head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) Ami Ayalon criticized the intelligence community regarding the lack of information on the whereabouts of Schalit. Ayalon said that due to an "intelligence failure" it was impossible to free Schalit in a military operation.