IDF: Book saying Ashkenazi planted Harpaz 'libelous'

Journalists Dan Margalit and Ronen Bergman claim outgoing IDF chief used Harpaz as a mole in the office of Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

By YAAKOV KATZ
Harpaz 311 (photo credit: Channel 10)
Harpaz 311
(photo credit: Channel 10)
The army rejected accusations leveled against outgoing Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi on Sunday in a new book on the army chief’s alleged involvement in the so-called Harpaz Document affair, which has rocked the military in recent months.
Written by journalists Dan Margalit and Ronen Bergman, the book claims that Ashkenazi used Lt.-Col. (res.) Boaz Harpaz as a mole in the office of Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Harpaz has been accused of forging a document that detailed a way for former OC Southern Command Maj.- Gen. Yoav Galant to become chief of General Staff.
Barak initially appointed Galant but his appointment was canceled due to allegations that he illegally seized land next to his home in Moshav Amikam. On Sunday, the cabinet approved the appointment of former deputy chief of staff Maj.-Gen Benny Gantz as the next chief of General Staff. He takes up the post on Monday.
Called Habor – Hebrew for “The Pit” – the book reportedly claims that Ashkenazi helped Harpaz receive highlevel security clearance despite concerns that the former intelligence officer had mishandled classified information.
The book also claims that Ashkenazi, when he served as head of the Northern Command in 2000, allegedly spread rumors that the three soldiers who were kidnapped were actually drug dealers.
The IDF rejected the accusations leveled against Ashkenazi in the book.
“The book is libelous and is aimed at harming the chief of staff on the eve of his resignation from the IDF. This book was written hurriedly by two people whose positions are well known and have made it their goal to defame the name of Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi.”