JERUSALEM, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz showed some regret Wednesday over the decision by IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz to resign.
Halutz had been under heavy pressure to step down for what critics call a gross mishandling of the summer war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, but Peretz maintained Wednesday that Israel's foes in the region should not misinterpret the decision, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Speaking at a military graduation ceremony in Haifa, Peretz said Halutz's decision was "premature. I am sorry he won't be with us to complete the task" of reinforcing the army after a summer campaign many critics say tainted Israel's prestige.
Peretz, who is also facing intense criticism for his handling of the war, along with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, still warned Israel's enemies: "Do not misinterpret the army chief's decision to resign as a sign of weakness."
Halutz has been roundly criticized for the way he conducted the war. Hezbollah sparked the hostilities by kidnapping two soldiers, however it was Israel's decision to go to war over it.
The Israelis inflicted heavy damage in Lebanon and hundreds of people were killed, but the war ended with the two soldiers still in Hezbollah's hands. The Lebanese militants fired some 4,000 rockets into northern Israel, which the Israeli military failed to stop.
One hundred and sixty Israeli soldiers and civilians were killed, more than 3,000 were injured and on Jan. 2 Halutz acknowledged: "To a certain extent the fact Hezbollah was not decisively defeated harmed (Israeli) deterrence of radical elements in the area."
