Source: Ynetnews
Feb 14, 2007
Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi became the 19th Israel Defense Forces chief of staff on Wednesday, replacing outgoing chief Dan Halutz.
At his swearing-in ceremony in Jerusalem, Ashkenazi said he was ready to lead the IDF in implementing the lessons learned from last summer's war in Lebanon, and in preparing the military for the next conflict, which analysts warn is just around the corner.
It was Israel's failure to decisively defeat Lebanon's Hizb'allah and secure the release of two abducted IDF soldiers that led to Halutz's downfall.
The beleaguered Halutz announced his intention to step down late last year after reportedly learning that a government commission of inquiry planned to lay significant blame for the wartime failures on his shoulders.
Ashkenazi is said to be extremely popular with IDF field commanders. He is going to need that popularity when the next war roles around and the time arrives to again order Israeli reservistgs - fathers, husbands and sons - into battle.
Most Israeli reservists involved in the Lebanon conflict expressed deep anger over the political and military leadership's failure to allow them to successfully execute the war, and said they resented being put in harm's way when victory was apparently not the goal.