A Unusual confrontation between the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to the IDF chief of staff Gabi ashkenazi at the Cabinet meeting discussing the yearly Budget and the reforms proposed.
During the debate Tuesday, Ashkenazi erupted over a treasury proposal to raise the retirement age for career noncombat officers. "Career officers are not contract laborers!" he shouted.
"That language is unacceptable to me," said a clearly upset Netanyahu. Ashkenazi retorted: "So don't accept it!"
According to IDF sources, Ashkenazi's anger stemmed from the fact that he, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak had agreed Monday night that the retirement proposal would not be discussed at the cabinet meeting, but would instead be handled by a special committee considering other changes in officers' employment terms.
After meeting with FM Shtienitz they agreed that the IDF will propose within 3 month a plan that will increase the age of the secession to the pension from the Army. The program will be demonstrated to the Treasury minister and if there will be additional disputes it will be passed to the decision of the Prime Minister, After the summary the chief of staff entered the room of the Prime Minister,and apologized.
