Dan Halutz

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Dan Halutz (help·info) (Hebrew: דן חלוץ) (born 1948 in Hagor to an Iranian-Jewish family) is an Israeli Air Force Lt. General and former Israeli Air Force commander. Halutz was appointed as Chief of Staff (Hebrew: רמטכ"ל) of the Israel Defense Forces on June 1, 2005. He has a degree in economics. He is married and has three children.

1 Military career
2 al-Aqsa Intifada
3 Gaza Disengagement
- 3.1 Handshake incident
4 Lebanon Conflict
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Military career

Halutz joined the Israeli Air Force (IAF) in 1966 and graduated from combat flight school in 1968. In 1969 he joined the first F-4 Phantom squadron of the IAF. During the War of Attrition Halutz carried out 40 operational flights.

After the war he left the IDF in order to study, but returned to active duty when the Yom Kippur War started in 1973. During the Yom Kippur War Halutz carried out over 43 operational flights in which he shot down 3 enemy planes in dogfights.

In 1978 he left the IDF again and served 4 years as a reserve pilot but returned to the service in 1982 when he was also trained to pilot the new F-16 jet fighter. In 1984 he commanded a Phantom squadron. In 1986 he was appointed to head the IAI Lavi jet project. After the project was canceled due to American pressure, Halutz was appointed as commander of Hatzor airbase in 1991.

In 1993 he was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed as head of air group. In 1995 he was appointed as the head of air force headquarters.

In 1998 he was promoted to Major General and in 1999 he was appointed as the head of the Operations Wing in the IDF General Staff.

In 2000 Halutz was appointed as the Israeli Air Force commander. He led the IAF during the Al-Aqsa Intifada, during which he was recognized by experts and subordinates as an innovative and a charismatic leader. Halutz's main reforms in the Air Force were the tightening of cooperation with the ground forces and the Shin Bet, the massive employment of UAV drones, the upgrading of precision strike capabilities in helicopter gunships and jets and the sharp decrease of accidents and aerial failures. During Halutz's time, only a small number of accidents occurred, none of them lethal. Moreover, he held a record of a straight 2.5 years with a clean slate of no accidents at all. During his term, the IAF took part in several 'targeted killing' operations of Palestinian leaders.

In 2004 he was appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff.

On February 23 2005, Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz announced that Halutz would be the next IDF Chief of Staff.

On June 1, 2005, Halutz was officially appointed as the eighteenth Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and was awarded the rank of Rav-Aluf (Lieutenant General). It is the second time in the history of the Israel Defense Forces that a former IAF commander became the head of the entire military. General Chaim Laskov was the first.

[edit] al-Aqsa Intifada

As the Israeli Air Force Commander in Chief, Halutz implemented changes which earned him the appreciation and respect of his officers and pilots. During Halutz's term, Israel purchased F-15E and F-16 fighter jets, capable of strategic bombing in all weather conditions. Halutz also expanded the usage of UAV drones to various missions as an effective tool of scouting and reconnaissance.

Halutz also tightened the cooperation of the IAF with the IDF ground forces and the Shabak (the Israeli internal security service and counter-terror agency), enabling the IAF to arrange "targeted killings" of Palestinian terror leaders within minutes after being provided intelligence from the Shabak.

The controversial "targeted killings" policy also caused some controversy about Halutz himself.

In August 2002, an IAF warplane dropped a one-ton bomb on a building in which a top Hamas bombmaker and commander, Salah Shahade, was hiding. However, the bombing caused more damage than expected and many thin structures around the building were hit as well. Shehada was killed, but with him 14 other civilians were killed. Israel expressed its apology over the death of civilians but stated that they had to carry the attack in order to stop a "ticking bomb" (i.e. Saleh Shehada) and that their original estimation did not expect such a high civilian toll.

Following this, Israeli left-wing activists and some journalists accused the IAF pilot of a "war crime". The Gush Shalom movement also threatened to turn the pilot over to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Halutz, who wanted to back up his subordinates, gave an interview to Haaretz on August 21, 2002. To his pilots he said:

[To pilots] Guys, ... you can sleep well at night. I also sleep well, by the way. You aren't the ones who choose the targets, and you were not the ones who chose the target in this particular case. You are not responsible for the contents of the target. Your execution was perfect. Superb. And I repeat again: There is no problem here that concerns you. You did exactly what you were instructed to do. You did not deviate from that by so much as a millimeter to the right or to the left. And anyone who has a problem with that is invited to see me.

When asked whether the operation is morally wrong because of the toll on some civilians, Halutz answered that the planning included moral consideration and that a mistake or an accident does not make it such.

When the reporter asked him about the feelings of a pilot and what he feels when he drops a bomb, Halutz answered:

No. That is not a legitimate question and it is not asked. But if you nevertheless want to know what I feel when I release a bomb, I will tell you: I feel a light bump to the plane as a result of the bomb's release. A second later it's gone, and that's all. That is what I feel.

In the same interview Halutz denounced the left-wing groups who attacked the pilots and called to have them tried for "treason":

Is this the public for which the Israel Defense Forces is fighting day in and day out? All those bleeding hearts who have the gall to use Mafioso methods of blackmail against fighters - I don't recall that they ever threatened to turn over one of the arch-terrorists, the terrorists who have killed many Israeli civilians, to The Hague. What I have to say about those people is that this is a democracy, where everyone can always express his opinion. But not to be a traitor.

[Interviewer asking] Are you suggesting that members of the Gush Shalom ("Peace Bloc") group who made those comments should be placed on trial for treason?

[Halutz answers] We have to find the right clause in the law and place them on trial in Israel. Yes. You wanted to talk to me about morality, and I say that a state that does not protect itself is acting immorally. A state that does not back up its fighters will not survive. Happily, the State of Israel does back up its fighters. This vocal but negligible minority brings to mind dark times in the history of the Jewish people, when a minority among us went and informed on another part of the nation. That must not happen again. Who would have believed that pilots of the air force would find their cars spray-painted with savage graffiti because of a mission they carried out?

(The interview: Haaretz, August 21, 2002)

Halutz's harsh expression became a public controversy, particularly among the left-wing. Right-wingers and centrists backed Halutz, stating that Halutz is committed not to harm innocent civilians - but not at the expense of innocent Israeli lives. Other critics questioned how the comment could comply with the IDF's Purity of Arms doctrine.

Following Halutz's appointment to Deputy Chief of Staff, a group of prominent left-wing activists, together with the Yesh Gvul refusal group, filed a petition with the Israeli Supreme Court of Justice (BAGATZ) in order to prevent the appointment. The petitioners attached a cut and somewhat edited version of the interview. [1]

The judges ordered Halutz to write an essay, clarifying his stand in the issue. Halutz complied and submitted an essay saying:

The fact the uninvolved civilians and innocent children were killed, saddens me. I regret that. (...) [The Air Force policy] is to employ the minimal force required to accomplish the mission. (...) If someone of those who took part in that operation would know this would be the tragic result - it would be canceled [or postponed]. A proof for this, is that the operation was already postponed number of times, because information we had about probable innocents around the terrorist Salah Shehade. (...) I (give great value) to the issue of responsibility distribution between the commander and his subordinates, between the pilots and those who sent to the mission, and therefore I told (them) to sleep well at nights."

In 2005, BAGATZ accepted Halutz's reply and rejected the petition.

Following Shaul Mofaz's announcement that Halutz would be the next IDF chief of staff, the Arab and Yachad MKs condemned the decision, while right-wing and centrist MKs blessed Halutz and condemned the left for its objection to Halutz. MK Gideon Sa'ar (Likud) said the Halutz appointment to chief of staff is a winning answer to the far left.

[edit] Gaza Disengagement

Main article: Israel's unilateral disengagement plan

[edit] Handshake incident

During the ceremony held in the residence of the President of the State to decorate outstanding soldiers, at the Independence Day, May 3, Sgt. Hananel Dayan refused to shake Halutz's hand because of the role played by the Chief of Staff in the evacuation of Gush Katif, and the destruction of his family home. The IDF reacted harshly and discharged Sgt. Dayan from the military. Recently, due to the Lebanon war, Dayan was called back to serve in the army.

[edit] Lebanon Conflict

[edit] Orders to "bomb ten buildings" in Dahaya

See also: Timeline of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

On 24 July it was reported that IDF Radio had broadcast details of orders issued by IDF Halutz:

"Army chief of staff Dan Halutz has given the order to the air force to destroy 10 multi-storey buildings in the Dahaya district (of Beirut) in response to every rocket fired on Haifa," a senior air force officer told army radio on Monday [24th July].<ref>More aid pledged to Lebanon as UN calls Hezbollah cowards, Ya Libnan, 24 July, 2006</ref><ref>"'10 buildings for each rocket'", Aljazeera/AFP, 2006-07-24.</ref><ref>"Israel to Bomb 10 Residential Blocks for Each Rocket Attack Against Haifa", Focus News Agency, 2006-07-24.</ref>

The same day the IAF/IDF confirmed it had destroyed ten buildings in Beirut including what it described as "a vital target" but the nature of the target was not released.<ref>IAF destroys 10 buildings in Beirut, Jerusalem Post, 24 July, 2006</ref> Halutz was quoted the previous day [23 July] as having said:

"There will always be some terrorist to fire a missile. But I believe we'll be able to push them north and reduce the accuracy of their fire. The other side must reach the conclusion that the price it pays for continuing the [rocket] fire is intolerable."<ref>IAF strikes religious building in southern Lebanon, 4 wounded, Haaretz, 23 July, 2006</ref>

The report was condemned on 24 July by the Israeli group Association for Civil Rights in Israel who wrote to Israeli Defense Minister Peretz and Israeli Attorney General Menahem Mazuz to criticise the orders: "Striking civilians and civilian infrastructure and using intentional means of intimidation and terrorizing civilian populations is forbidden by international humanitarian law, and could be war crimes."<ref>Civil rights group challenges Halutz, Ynetnews.com, 24 July, 2006.</ref> The group also condemned the "grave and illegal" attacks carried out on the Israeli civilian population by Hezbollah.<ref>ACRI protests statements and orders issued by Chief of Staff, ACRI, 24 July, 2006.</ref>

[edit] August 12 - August 23

August 12: Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz said at a briefing at a military base in northern Israel, according to Reuters. "The fact we are increasing our operation is based on the idea that the Israeli defense forces should provide defense to our civilians," he said, according to Reuters. "We will continue to operate until we achieve our aims." <ref name=CNN-08-12>"Hezbollah leader agrees to cease-fire, with reservations", CNN, 2006-08-12.</ref>

August 15: Israeli forces will complete their pullout from southern Lebanon within 10 days, giving way to U.N. and Lebanese forces, Israel's army chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, said.<ref name=CNN-08-15>"Israeli military sets timetable for Lebanon pullout", CNN, 2006-08-15.</ref>

August 16: Israel's forces will not leave Lebanon until a U.N.-led multinational force arrives, "even if it takes months," Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Dan Halutz said.<ref name=CNN-08-16>"Israel says its troops could stay in Lebanon for months", CNN, 2006-08-16.</ref>

August 21: IDF reservists who served in the Spearhead Brigade in Lebanon, sent a petition to Defense Minister Amir Peretz and IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz in protest at the handling of the war by the government and senior military officials.<ref>"Italian TEXT: Protest petition by IDF reservists back from the war", Haaretz, 2006-08-21. Retrieved on 2006-08-21.</ref>

August 23: An Amnesty International- report noted a statement from the Israeli military chief of staff, Lt. Gen Dan Halutz, calling Hezbollah a “cancer” that Lebanon must get rid of “because if they don’t, their country will pay a very high price.” The Amnesty International report came as a number of international aid and human rights agencies used the current lull in fighting to assess the damage.”<ref name=NewYorkTimes-08-23>"Human Rights Group Accuses Israel of War Crimes in Lebanon", New York Times, 2006-08-23.</ref>

[edit] Investment portfolio scandal

On August 15 2006, it was revealed that Halutz sold off his investment portfolio three hours after two Israeli soldiers were captured by Hezbollah during the Zar'it-Ayta ash-Shab incident, leading to the war. While this action on the part of the Chief of Staff is technically legal and is only restricted (through blind trusteeship) from cabinet members, the State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss has called to expand it to the Chief of Staff and to other senior officials. Several Knesset members have called for Halutz to offer his resignation, and some members of the General Staff Forum have commented that this appears inevitable. <ref>(Hebrew) "State Comptroller: the Chief of Staff needs to be prohibited from actions to his investment portfolio", Haaretz, August 16, 2006</ref>

On August 17, Halutz rejected resigning over the affair, adding that the motives behind its publication are "wicked and tendentious. I do not know who is behind this. I do not intend to be dragged to such levels, questioning my integrity. " The IDF Spokesperson has stated that: "The chief of staff is handling the financial affairs of his family on a daily basis, like any other Israeli citizen. Routine banking operations are part of this management... the chief of staff works day and night to protect the lives of the citizens and of IDF soldiers." <ref>"Mazuz: Halutz affair does not require criminal investigation", Haaretz, August 17, 2006</ref>Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, the head of the IDF, admitted selling about $28,000 worth of his stocks within three hours of Hezbollah's kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers -- the action that sparked the conflict. In a news conference in Tel Aviv, Halutz said the stock sale was unrelated to the outbreak of war and criticized the disclosure of his personal financial information.<ref name=CNN-08-17>"Lebanese troops deploy as part of U.N. cease-fire", CNN, 2006-08-17.</ref> On August 30, a Bank Leumi probe announced that the source of the leak did not come from its bank. <ref>Bank Leumi: source of leak on Halutz - not from the bank", Haaretz, August 30, 2006 (Hebrew)</ref>

Military Offices
Preceded by: Eitan Ben Eliyahu	Commander of the Israeli Air Force 2000–2004	Succeeded by: Elyezer Shkedy
Preceded by: Moshe Ya'alon	Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces 2005- Present	Succeeded by: Incumbent