This begins with a harsh letter from ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) Director Yoram Cohen who alleges the IDF was ill prepared and ignored ISA warnings regarding Operation Protective Edge this past summer. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, 19 Marcheshvan summoned both senior officials for a meeting, seeking to put out the fire which is waging in the public arena.

Mr. Netanyahu told Gantz and Cohen that defense matters may not be debated in the public arena, calling on both of them to refrain from commenting in the media. Gantz responded harshly to Cohen’s letter alleging he failed to heed ISA warnings before the war. Gantz reportedly rejected the allegations, explaining that the IDF is the primary body responsible for national security and it cannot be accused of ignoring warnings based on intelligence gathering from another intelligence agency.

Gantz is quoted adding that he must be able to look into the eyes of every mother and explain that everything possible to prepare was done and he cannot permit such unfounded accusations pass without a response.

Channel 2 News reports the ISA claims it began sounding the warning in January, months before the fighting began. It adds that in April Cohen presented national leaders with a sterner warning of Hamas’ plan to execute a major terror attack via tunnels to the Kerem Shalom area of southern Israel. This plan he explained would result in mass causalities and the abduction of IDF soldiers.

The IDF however claims it never received such a warning from the ISA, not in January or April.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)