‘I thought of firing Mofaz’
Ynet publishes quotations from autobiography of National Infrastructure Minister Ben-Eliezer, who reveals that, as defense minister, he considered dismissing then-IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz for his political outbursts; Ben-Eliezer also takes aim at Shimon Peres
“Against All Odds” – that’s the title of Binyamin Ben-Eliezer’s autobiography, which has just come out in the last few days.
On Mofaz:
Co-written with Arik Henig, the book tells of Ben-Eliezer’s adventures in the military and politics.
Perhaps not entirely by coincidence, the book comes out right before the Labor Party primaries, in which Ben-Eliezer plans to participate.
The book also provides insight into how Ben-Eliezer views his rivals and other Israeli personalities. For instance, in 2001, Ben-Eliezer considered dismissing then-IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz because of his interference in political affairs.
פואד כנגד כל הסיכויים
“When he was still IDF Chief of Staff, he was trying to corral the votes of the right, including the radical right, and I said to those around me: This guy is trying to build himself a political career while still in uniform … I summoned him and told him that I am considering ending his career.
“He sat and said in an apologetic tone that he didn’t mean what he said exactly in that way and all sorts of excuses. I went to Arik (Sharon) with this, and Arik heard (me out) and said I understand you and didn’t express opposition, but I decided not to relent.”
Ben-Eliezer recalled that Mofaz spoke out of term another time, and again, Ben-Eliezer went to Sharon. This time, the prime minister told him to think it over, and if afterward he still felt like firing Mofaz, then Sharon would back him up. Ben-Eliezer made do with a public rebuke of Mofaz.
On Ehud Barak:
“Before the elections, Barak talked about the old woman languishing in the hallway in the Nahariya hospital and forgot all about her as soon as he won.”
On Shimon Peres:
“On the one hand, he’s a distinguished statesman and, on the other hand, he’s a political operator. Despite his grand accomplishments, he always knew how to take inventory of himself. He is loyal to those who are loyal to him. Loyalty for Peres is servitude.
“No one can deny his contributions to the country and to the party, but the question is, with all due respect, if it’s right that a man at 80, and I hope he’s healthy until 120, should run a party during a period of a national crisis ... I have my doubts.”
On Benjamin Netanyahu:
“I have a lot of respect for Bibi. He’s a very talented man, and he believes in what he thinks and says. But I tell him all the time: Someone who was never tested by poverty, by hunger, does not know anything about it.”
On Mahmoud Abbas:
“We are talking about a man who, in terms politics and ideology, believes exactly the same thing as Yasser Arafat, except for terrorism, violence and incitement. He rejects this path. He’s a pragmatic sort, but he has his limits. He won’t give up on a Palestinian state, and Sharon who dreams of 42 percent of the territories is daydreaming.”
