Israel swears in new military chief

JERUSALEM, Feb 14 (Reuters) Israel swore in a new military chief today, giving the post to a veteran combat soldier with experience fighting Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.

Gabi Ashkenazi replaces Lieutenant-General Dan Halutz who resigned last month following public criticism of Israel's failure to crush the guerrillas in a month-long war last year.

Ashkenazi began his four-year term as army chief after a ceremony in which Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Amir Peretz formally promoted him to the rank of lieutenant-general.

Ashkenazi, 52, was chosen at least in part because of his limited role in the Lebanon war. In his acceptance speech, he vowed that the army was ''prepared to carry out the lessons learned'' from the war.

A government-named panel examining the handling of the war is expected to issue its initial findings in the coming weeks.

Ashkenazi was not in uniform during the war and served as the defence ministry's director-general.

Some 1,200 Lebanese and 157 Israelis were killed in the 34-days of fighting that ended with a United Nations-sponsored ceasefire in mid-August.

Ashkenazi served in southern Lebanon and headed the army's northern command in the final years before Israeli troops, after constant attacks by Hezbollah fighters, withdrew after a 22-year occupation in 2000.

During the hand-over ceremony, Halutz took a swipe at his critics. He said he had stepped aside in acceptance of responsibility but not in blame, and said Israel should investigate its ''culture of discourse, inflammatory statements and leaks.'' REUTERS KD ND1502