An Israeli general who was shunted aside as commander of the Lebanon front during a month of fighting against Hizbullah guerrillas resigned today in a widely expected move.
Some Israeli military affairs commentators had questioned whether Major-General Udi Adam, a tank officer, had been the right choice to head the Northern Command and lead a campaign that relied largely on air power, artillery and infantry.
"Adam requested this morning to resign his position in the near future. The chief of staff has accepted Adam's request. He will be replaced in the near future in accordance with Israel Defence Forces procedure," an army spokesman said.
Gen Adam had been widely expected to leave the army in the wake of a decision near the end of the 34-day war to appoint another general as "co-ordinator of operations in Lebanon" at the Northern Command.
"The state of Israel definitely owes (Adam) a great debt," Defence Minister Amir Peretz told Israel Radio. "No doubt we need to examine the meaning of the (move), why he decided to do it ... such an announcement by a general cannot be ignored."