At a ceremony held in the office of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Major General Dan Halutz was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, and was appointed as the 18th Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.
Incoming Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Dan Halutz replaced Lieutenant General Moshe (Bogi) Ya'alon, who had served in this position since July 2002. Lt. Gen. Ya'alon will be retiring from the IDF after 37 years of service.
Senior figures present at the ceremony included the Prime Minister, Mr. Ariel Sharon, the Minister of Defense,
Ya'alon speech emphasized his belief that Israel's military achievements made it clear to its enemies that terror does not pay.
"During the past several years, through the heaviest fighting, the IDF has undergone significant changes in the design and organization of its forces. A revolution has occurred in the areas of development and communications, and new technologies were assimilated into our systems, allowing us to achieve information supremacy. Additionally, IDF commanders at all tactical levels honed their abilities to find creative and flexible solutions to operational problems. These improvements allowed us to preserve and later enhance our operational capabilities while cutting the costs of fighting terror.
"The joint efforts of thousands of IDF soldiers and officers were the driving force for these achievements. A more determined, wiser approach to the employment of force, founded on the principle which states that the only thing that remains constant in war fighting is change, is what has led to the relative calm that exists today. This is what contributed to renewed signs of life and hope on the streets of Israel.
"Today's IDF is an advanced and powerful force ready to confront any threats or dangers".
Ya'alon said that the one mission he had not succeeded in accomplishing was the return of all IDF servicemen declared missing in action. "I am willing to make all efforts to complete this task," he said.
Halutz said he would keep the IDF open to criticism and public scrutiny. "The nation has the right to know, and it is our duty to ensure this right". He stressed that this was particularly true in light of the upcoming controversial withdrawal from Gaza.
"The State of Israel now stands before a mission that is critical to its future -- the Disengagement Plan. The government's and the parliament's decision on this matter will be carried out with the necessary sensitivity and determination, and we will dedicate all of the material, spiritual, and human resources available to us to the fulfillment of our duties. Human dignity must be preserved by all, and it applies to everyone -- both citizens and soldiers.
"We must not allow the IDF to be caught up in the political debate surrounding the Disengagement Plan. Insubordination and divisions in the IDF are not acceptable, regardless of the reasons. The wisdom of military command, and none other, must deal with these sensitive issues. Every Israeli citizen knows that one chain of command exists in the IDF -- the military chain of command, which carries out the decisions of the government. There is no other".
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on Wednesday, June 01, 2005