Taking responsibility: IDF Intelligence head, Maj.-Gen. Aharon Haliva, resigns from the IDF
Maj.-Gen. Aharon Haliva, the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate
head, has retired from the IDF after leaving a letter of resignation on
the desk of IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Israeli media reported on
Monday.
Shortly after, the IDF
released a statement saying, "In a decision with the Chief of Staff and
with the approval of the Minister of Defense, Major General Aharon
Haliva will conclude his role and retire from the IDF after appointing a
successor through an orderly and professional process.
Major
General Aharon Haliva noted in his request his high appreciation for
the performance of the Military Intelligence Directorate's personnel
during the war.
The Chief of Staff thanked Major General Aharon Haliva for his service
over 38 years in the IDF, during which he contributed significantly as a
fighter and commander for the security of the state."
Claiming responsibility
In his letter,
Haliva states that he would like to take responsibility for what
happened on October 7 and promises to do his best to complete as many of
the war's goals as possible.
These
goals include reestablishing military dominance in the north and south
of the Gaza Strip, deterring further threats from Iran and other foreign
enemies, and returning the hostages.
As
time passed since October 7, calls for him to resign from the public
increased as well. This was mainly due to two factors: the increasing
passing of time since the October 7 attack and the recent military
intelligence blunder in which the IDF miscalculated Iran's response to
the strike that killed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps official
Mohammad Reza Zahedi.
In
response to Haliva's announcement, Yesh Atid Party member Vladimir
Beliak posted on the social media platform X: “IDF Intelligence
Directorate head was wise to resign. A state inquiry committee must be
established without delay. The Prime Minister must resign immediately,
regardless of the establishment of a state inquiry committee.
