JERUSALEM – Israel’s armed-forces chief admitted yesterday that he sold his entire stock portfolio three hours after the border attack that launched the Lebanese war.
But Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz rejected demands that he resign, calling the disclosure a “malicious” and “wicked” attack on his integrity.
Halutz said he didn’t know when he sold the $25,000 investment that a war was imminent. The outbreak of fighting the next day sent Israeli stocks falling by more than 10 percent.
Halutz, under fire for his handling of the campaign against Hezbollah, said Israel could complete its withdrawal from Lebanon “in a week to 10 days.”
Israeli forces have pulled out of the battleground towns of Marjayoun, Olaiah and Ghandouriyeh, sources said.
But the truce that ended 33 days of fighting Monday remained fragile. Israel said it shot five guerrillas yesterday and Hezbollah launched four mortars near Israeli troops.
Hezbollah’s backers joined in its claim of victory yesterday.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the war had turned an American plan to transform the region into “an illusion.”
His words were echoed by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who said Hezbollah “hoisted the banner of victory” and foiled Washington’s plan “to create the so-called new Middle East.”
With Post Wire Services