Last update - 02:29 11/06/2004
Opposition demands probe of Gilad's `erroneous' evaluations
By Akiva Eldar and Gideon Alon
The opposition yesterday called for a thorough examination into Military Intelligence chief Amos Malka's comments regarding the "erroneous" evaluations made by the head of Military Intelligence's research division, Amos Gilad.
Haaretz reported yesterday that, according to Malka, Gilad had persuaded the cabinet to accept an erroneous view of the cause of the intifada that erupted in October 2000 and to believe that there was no Palestinian partner for peace.
Opposition chairman MK Shimon Peres said this was an extremely severe matter, because Gilad's evaluations, which he called "stupid, exaggerated theories," contributed to a large extent to the change of government in 2001 and to the decision to carry out a unilateral disengagement, instead of trying to reach an agreement with the Palestinians.
Peres said that when he was a cabinet member he did not accept Gilad's evaluations and argued with him. He added that the matter requires an in-depth probe and he demanded an urgent debate in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
MK and Major General (res.) Matan Vilnai said, "Malka is a serious man and his statement requires a thorough examination and raises profound questions about the relations between the military and political levels."
Vilnai said Haaretz's report yesterday about the falsification of the intelligence evaluations appears grave and, if true, could have determined the political and security moves and distorted the ability to reach an agreement with the Palestinians. He and MK Ran Cohen (Yahad-Meretz) also demanded an urgent debate in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
Cohen said Haaretz's expose is even graver than the Military Intelligence's conduct before the war against Iraq and said a committee should be set up to inquire into Malka's claims and reach operative conclusions.
Yahad chairman Yossi Beilin described Haaretz's report as "a scandalous conspiracy between certain elements in the defense establishment and the radical concept of Sharon's government, that ganged up to deceive the Israeli public for more than three years, telling it there was no partner to peace."
Beilin said the discovery undermines Sharon's main argument for a unilateral move and he called on the government to resume talks with the Palestinian Authority.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz yesterday supported Gilad and praised his evaluations. These evaluations led Mofaz, then chief of staff, to the decisions he made in the confrontation with the Palestinians. Mofaz added that the intelligence evaluation that Gilad was partner to in 1999 helped the IDF and defense establishment prepare for the confrontation of 2000.