| Israel’s field commander during last year’s Lebanon war lashed out at the handling of the conflict in comments published on Monday, complaining of a “dangerous politicisation” among top brass. “During and after the second Lebanon war, the senior political echelon hid behind those fighting in the field and deserted them,” said Brigadier General Gal Hirsch, who was northern divisional commander during the 34-day war. “Deplorable political norms have penetrated parts of an IDF (Israel Defence Force) afflicted by dangerous politicisation likely to undermine the army’s very foundations,” he added, according to Israel’s Ynet News. Hirsch blamed senior commanders, who “did not trust existing plans and, when the situation became too complex, forgot all the core values of camaraderie and mutual support upon which the IDF has depended since its founding.” Hirsch resigned from the military last year after an in-house probe, subsequently criticised by a public commission of inquiry, faulted his leadership during the war. |