Report: Halutz sold investments 3 hours after soldiers' abduction

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Dan Halutz went to his bank branch and sold an NIS 120,000 investment portfolio only three hours after two IDF soldiers were abducted by Hezbollah on the northern border, the Ma'ariv daily newspaper reported Monday.

Several hours after the abduction, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared war on Hezbollah and Israeli warplanes began bombarding targets deep inside Lebanon.

But as the country's political and military echelons met urgently to discuss the possible declaration of war, Halutz went at 12.00 P.M. on July 12 to sell an investment portfolio.

In response to the report, Halutz confirmed to Ma'ariv that he sold the portfolio on that date and at that time, but denied it had anything to do with the possibility of an imminent war. The IDF chief said he sold the portfolio because of recent losses he took prior to July 12."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/750789.html

[pelsar]

1. OMG!!!!

the chief of staff had a bank transaction during office hours!!!! did he have lunch?...perhaps he went ot the bathroom?...called his wife?...asked about his kids?....talk about insensitivity!...that Zionist/racist/fundamentalist MONSTER

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. You may regret your post.

If it's saying what I think its saying, this guy knew that Israel was going to start an attack, and my guess is, that portfolio contained investments that would have been affected negatively by the military action.

I'm still shocked about reading that our own congressmen have financial consultants in their own offices, on the ready to act on any information that might be profitable. This is one of those things where an honest person would hear a little voice in their head saying, "This has got to be illegal."

[pelsar]

3. i doubt it....

this is one of those things that one does everyday in ones life.....and when a newspaper cant find anything to write about, they go looking knowing some gullible readers will find the "evilness" in everyday life deeds

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Welcome to the new corruption.

I highly disagree with you. I think private sector business transactions, and especially stock investing, has crossed into the public sector and our public officials are taking far too many liberties getting wealthy from their own "inside information." These people are very serious about making money or protecting their money during chaotic times. Wasn't it Pointdexter who wanted to create an investment opportunity for people to bet (invest) on global tragedies?

The time table for this particular transaction is particularly troublesome. Just a few hours after the kidnapping when Israel officials were talking about taking military action?

Newspapers, in case you haven't noticed, haven't been quick to publish this kind of information in the past. That's why we are, where we are today. I say, keep publishing this information. It helps us to follow the money, whenever we have to.

[Missy M]

5. You don't find it odd that the IDF Chief of Staff.....

went to the bank to sell an investment portfolio while the possibility of war was being discussed by the political and military echelons?I think most would find that action suspect.

[FlavaKreemSnak]

6. Seymour Hersh says it was planned a long time in advance

So there are probably a lot of people who did stuff to make sure all their investments were the ones to make the most money. Maybe they didn't tell this guy exactly when until right when they were going to start things so he had to wait for 3 hours?

[pelsar]

8. the war...

was planned years in advanced..just as there are plans to attack and be attacked by syrian, jordan, egypt, iraq, iran, etc.....its called contengency planning. all responsble govts do it. Trying to fault the israeli govt for doing what all normal govt do is absurd, not that i am not surprised. Blame israel for being normal.

[pelsar]

7. i think it was poor timing...

if he did it (was it a 5 second computer transaction?) or did the bank call him about some account that needed a couple seconds of attention?.....it could have been perfecty innocent....but israeli wars are short, nothing that would have any long term affects that would require some financial transactions for his own financial gain.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MrPrax]

10. So your saying...

that the head of Israel's Army, while launching what might prove to be the most decisive battle in Israel's history, is AS CONCERNED with 'everyday things' as intelligence on Hezbullah strength, concentrations, supply lines, long range rockets, etc...

No wonder so many IDF got wasted...

You know there might be a kernel of truth to what you are saying, but you are arguing the wrong set of assumptions simply for the cause...

Certainly there is NO endless shortage of negative smear going on in the Israeli press towards Halutz (why did they put a airman in charge of the army?) and Olmert's cabinet (Olmert is no Sharon) and much of it is coming from Likud and Ne-ten-yahoo to defeat the current government...so you could have mentioned this...which probably would be less controversial that simply discounting the story and implying it's some concoction to demonize Israel and Jewish people?

Would it kill you to believe that neo-cons and generals might be greedy and more than happy to trade on insider information?

That happens everyday as well?

[Scurrilous]

11. Bank Leumi orders internal inquiry over leak of Halutz affair

<snip>

"Greatly embarrassed by the affair, Bank Leumi executives ordered on Tuesday an internal inquiry to determine whether its employees leaked information, which has brought many to call for the Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff's resignation.

Senior sources in the IDF General Staff and field officers who took part in the war in Lebanon said on Tuesday that Chief of Staff Dan Halutz, who went to his bank branch and sold an NIS 120,000 investment portfolio only three hours after two soldiers were abducted by Hezbollah on the northern border, cannot escape resignation.

The sources say there is a clear ethical flaw in the chief of staff's behavior during the hours when soldiers were killed in Lebanon and others were attempting to rescue wounded. Halutz should resign the moment the military completes its pullout from south Lebanon, they said.

At this stage, it does not appear that Halutz intends to resign of his own accord."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/750789.html

[breakaleg]

12. It definitely points to his knowledge of how Israel would react.

Sounds like they were waiting for just such a provocation and he knew it.

[IntiRaymi]

13. There is too much overreaction to posts like these.

People start claiming anti-semitism as soon as something bad is said about Israel's Dear Leaders.
Free speech, anyone?