Israel chooses new army chief: Reports

Jerusalem, Jan 22: Israeli leaders have chosen a new armychief to replace the general who quit last week over the July/Augustwar with Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, Israeli media reports saidtoday.

Gaby Ashkenazy, a retired general with experience on the Lebanesefront, was expected to be formally approved for the job by PrimeMinister Ehud Olmert, Israel Radio and two mass circulation dailiessaid.

Ashkenazy, 52, an infantry commander, would replaceLieutenant-General Dan Halutz once his nomination was approved by theIsraeli cabinet.

The Yedioth Ahronoth daily said Olmert might announce his choice of Ashkenazy later today.

Olmert's spokeswoman Miri Eisin denied he had made a finaldecision. ''This is all speculation in the media,'' she said but addedOlmert hoped to decide on a worthy chief of staff as soon as possible.

Defence Minister Amir Peretz announced his choice of Ashkenazy,who headed the army's northern command in the final years of Israel'soccupation of southern Lebanon, after consultations with Olmert.

Israeli media said another leading candidate for the job, thearmy's deputy chief of staff, Gen Moshe Kaplinsky, had written a letterdropping out of the race.

Halutz, a former air force chief, resigned last week after monthsof public criticism of the military's failure to crush Hezbollah,retrieve two captured soldiers or halt rocket attacks on the Jewishstate during the 2006 war in Lebanon.

Reuters>