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Protestors took to the streets this past Motzei Shabbos outside the home of the State Prosecutor’s home, demanding the state either charge former IDF Brigadier-General Gal Hirsch with a crime, or close the case against him. They do not want a repeat of the legal foot-dragging seen with Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who was under investigation for 13 years, until the cases were all closed with criminal indictments.

Hirsch, an extremely decorated combat officer, was in line to be an IDF Chief Staff but he was targeted by someone who did not wish to see this happen. As a result, he became the scape goat for the failures of the Second Lebanon War, and the exemplary officer eventually resigned in disgrace after 24 years of service and has been fighting to clear his name since. The investigations against him have been ongoing for over three years.

He was selected by Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan to become the Israel Police Commissioner, but stepped down amid shouts there are probes against him and his candidacy became a subject of controversy, clearing the way for the appointment of the current commissioner, Roni Alshich.

Protestors blocked the street for a period of time but complied with police instructions when told to clear the area. They explained they were uninterested in any conflict with police, as their message is intended for State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan and no one else.

Nitzan recently announced the Rishon L’Tzion case is being closed because it is clear there was no criminal actions by Hirsch. It is important to understand the difference, as cases are usually closed for a ‘lack of evidence’. This was not the case here but clearly, accusations that Hirsch was involved in manipulating a tender was learned to be unfounded and therefore, the investigation was closed.

Once investigation remains, and backers of Hirsch are calling for action, either a criminal indictment or to close this case too, to permit Hirsch to move ahead with his life and professional career, as he was dragged through the mud by powerful people who decided his military career must end. This is similar to what occurred with Brigadier-General Ofir Winter, and before him, Brigadier-General Effie Eitam, with the latter retiring from the IDF years ago, entering politics and serving as a cabinet minister for the National Religious Party. Winter remains in the IDF, albeit with the knowledge he will never be chief of staff, today serving as PM Netanyahu’s military secretary.

Supporters of Gal now include Members of Knesset, including Yoav Kisch (Likud), Amir Ochana (Likud), Hilik Bar (Machane Tzioni), Eyal Ben-Reuven (Machane Tzioni), and they along with many others are unwilling to tolerate the State Prosecutor’s foot-dragging regarding Hal Hirsch.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)