IDF Chief: Hizbullah may attack Israel over Hariri report

During visit to army base, Ashkenazi defends appointment of Tamir Pardo as new Mossad head; says world faces new risks from Wikileaks.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Ashkenazi 311 (photo credit: Channel 10)
Ashkenazi 311
(photo credit: Channel 10)
Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said on Tuesday that there is a small chance Hizbullah will act against Israel following the publication of the findings of the UN tribunal on the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.
During a visit to the Tel Hashomer army base, Ashkenazi said that the more the published report is in accordance with Hizbullah, the more stability will be maintained in the region.
RELATED:Tamir Pardo named next Mossad headPM says Wikileaks site will make life more difficultAlso on Tuesday, Ashkenazi defended the appointment of Tamir Pardo as head of Mossad, saying that Pardo only had a marginal role in the leaking of the false document drafted by Boaz Harpaz, and stressed that the issue "was checked from every angle."
Ashkenazi added that Pardo is "a professional man, fit for the job."
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday announced the appointment of Pardo as the next head of the espionage agency.
In announcing the appointment, Netanyahu said that Pardo had dozens of years of experience and was “the right person to lead the Mossad in the coming years in light of the complex challenges facing the State of Israel.”
Defense Minister Ehud Barak was reported to have been opposed to the appointment since Pardo had seen the so-called Galant Document, after it was shown to him by Col. (res.) Gabi Siboni, the former IDF officer who leaked it to Channel 2.
Pardo was not involved in writing the document, but Siboni had reportedly consulted with him before leaking it to the media.
In related news, Ashkenazi also commented on the release Sunday of classified documents by Wikileaks. Ashkenazi said "This teaches us that we are in a world where new risks exist. The IDF is not protected from these risks. We still do not understand the scope of this thing, but it is being followed by Intelligence and this may affect the future of open dialogue with some people."