Yiftah Ron-Tal
Encyclopedia
Yiftah Ron-Tal is the Director of the Israel Electric Corporation
, former head of the Israel Port Authority
and former Major General in the Israel Defense Forces
(IDF).
Ron-Tal was born on Netiv HaLamed-Heh
, a kibbutz in the Elah valley
in central Israel
. Drafted
in 1974 into the Israeli Armored Corps, he is a former commander of the IDF Ground Forces Command
.
should accept responsibity for malfunctions in the Israel-Hezbollah War
and accept the consequences. He hinted that Israel
i PM Ehud Olmert
should do the same.
"Those who directed this war must take responsibility," Ron-Tal said on Israel Radio, "We did not win this war, and it is proper that those who directed it should take responsibility".
He also said that employing the IDF to evacuate settlers from the Gaza Strip Israeli Settlements just over a year ago was a grave mistake because it had seriously degraded the army's combat capabilities. Following these remarks, he was discharged from the IDF while on leave after 33 years of service, two months prior to retirement. The Israeli media reported though that Ron-Tal had sent a letter of resignation prior to being fired.
While the comments themselves were not the most vitriolic heard since the end of the Israel-Hezbollah war, Ron-Tal was roundly criticized for making them while still in uniform. Even though Ron-Tal was on a final leave of absence before leaving the army, orders state that active soldiers are forbidden from giving interviews to the media without permission from the IDF Spokesperson's Unit
, especially resenting opinions about the army and politics. He was the second general officer to criticize Halutz while in uniform over the war, the first being Ilan Harari
.
In a previous controversial interview in 2003, he had advocated the liquidation of PLO chairman Yasser Arafat
.
Ron-Tal serves as head of the Israel Electric Corporation, after having headed the Israel Port Authority
.
Israel Electric Corporation
Israel Electric Corporation is the main supplier of electrical power in Israel.IEC builds, maintains and operates power generation stations, sub-stations, as well as the transmission and distribution networks....
, former head of the Israel Port Authority
Israel Port Authority
Israel Ports and Railway Authority is the governmental agency which operates and manages Israel's seaports in Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat. The Ports Authority was set up on July 1, 1961, under the Ports Authority Law 5721-1961...
and former Major General in the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
(IDF).
Ron-Tal was born on Netiv HaLamed-Heh
Netiv HaLamed-Heh
Netiv HaLamed-Heh is a kibbutz in central Israel. Located in the Valley of Elah, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council...
, a kibbutz in the Elah valley
Valley of Elah
The Valley of Elah, "the valley of the oak or terebinth" , best known as the place described in the Bible where the Israelites were encamped when David fought Goliath . It was near Azekah and Socho...
in central Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Drafted
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
in 1974 into the Israeli Armored Corps, he is a former commander of the IDF Ground Forces Command
GOC Army Headquarters
The Israeli GOC Army headquarters , known unofficially as Mazi, is a multi-corps command headquarters created in 1998, which amalgamates the ground forces of the Israel Defense Forces...
.
Controversy
On October 4, 2006 he said publicly that IDF Chief of Staff Dan HalutzDan Halutz
' is an Israeli Air Force Lt. General and former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and commander of the Israeli Air Force. Halutz was appointed as Chief of Staff on June 1, 2005. On January 17, 2007 he announced his resignation. He has a degree in economics. He was born to a Mizrahi...
should accept responsibity for malfunctions in the Israel-Hezbollah War
2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
The 2006 Lebanon War, also called the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War and known in Lebanon as the July War #Other uses|Tammūz]]) and in Israel as the Second Lebanon War , was a 34-day military conflict in Lebanon, northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories. The principal parties were Hezbollah...
and accept the consequences. He hinted that Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i PM Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert is an Israeli politician and lawyer. He served as Prime Minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009, as a Cabinet Minister from 1988 to 1992 and from 2003 to 2006, and as Mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003....
should do the same.
"Those who directed this war must take responsibility," Ron-Tal said on Israel Radio, "We did not win this war, and it is proper that those who directed it should take responsibility".
He also said that employing the IDF to evacuate settlers from the Gaza Strip Israeli Settlements just over a year ago was a grave mistake because it had seriously degraded the army's combat capabilities. Following these remarks, he was discharged from the IDF while on leave after 33 years of service, two months prior to retirement. The Israeli media reported though that Ron-Tal had sent a letter of resignation prior to being fired.
While the comments themselves were not the most vitriolic heard since the end of the Israel-Hezbollah war, Ron-Tal was roundly criticized for making them while still in uniform. Even though Ron-Tal was on a final leave of absence before leaving the army, orders state that active soldiers are forbidden from giving interviews to the media without permission from the IDF Spokesperson's Unit
IDF Spokesperson's Unit
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit is the unit in the IDF Operations Directorate, responsible for information policy and media relations. The unit is led by the IDF Spokesperson, a brigadier general and member of the General Staff, and by the Deputy Spokesperson, a colonel. The current Spokesperson is...
, especially resenting opinions about the army and politics. He was the second general officer to criticize Halutz while in uniform over the war, the first being Ilan Harari
Ilan Harari
llan Harari is a retired brigadier general Israel Defense Forces. He is most known for serving as the Chief Education Officer of the IDF. He has served in several combat positions, including a command position in the Nahal Brigade and as a battalion commander in the Golani Brigade.On September 22,...
.
In a previous controversial interview in 2003, he had advocated the liquidation of PLO chairman Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat
Mohammed Yasser Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini , popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar , was a Palestinian leader and a Laureate of the Nobel Prize. He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization , President of the Palestinian National Authority...
.
Ron-Tal serves as head of the Israel Electric Corporation, after having headed the Israel Port Authority
Israel Port Authority
Israel Ports and Railway Authority is the governmental agency which operates and manages Israel's seaports in Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat. The Ports Authority was set up on July 1, 1961, under the Ports Authority Law 5721-1961...
.