Ministers fume over attacks on IDF head, ask if panel ‘fit to make defense decisions’

A minister quoted by the Kan public broadcaster says screaming from a cabinet meeting that went down in flames as ministers squabbled over an IDF probe could be heard down the hall, and another derides the “unhinged incitement” against army chief Herzi Halevy.

“This was a despicable discussion that blew up,” another minister is quoted saying. “They attacked the army. Some of the senior defense officials left in the middle.”

Yet another minister tells the station that the government needs to rethink whether the security cabinet is currently made up “is fit to make decisions on our defense policies.”

“What happened there was a shameful embarrassment,” the minister tells the station. “You can criticize the IDF, but they want after the chief of staff relentlessly.”

According to the Ynet news site, the meeting ended after 3 hours as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent everyone home.

Kan reports that as he did so, the premier told Halevi “Sometimes, you need to listen to the ministers.”