JERUSALEM - A former deputy chief of staff will become Israel's new military commander, Israeli media reported Monday, after another candidate for the job withdrew his name.
Gabi Ashkenazi, serving now as director of the Defense Ministry, will assume the place of Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, according to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
Halutz resigned in the wake of criticism over the inconclusive outcome of last summer's war in Lebanon.
On Sunday, the current deputy army chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky, dropped out of the race, clearing the way for Ashkenazi.
Ashkenazi, a reserves major general, served as deputy chief of staff before assuming his current role, a civilian posting.
Kaplinsky was sent to supervise the running of the Lebanon front toward the end of the 34-day war, in effect replacing the commander, Maj. Gen. Udi Adam, who announced his resignation shortly after the war.
Halutz stepped down last week as army committees appointed to study the military's performance completed their work. The main inquiry commission, appointed by the government, is expected to release preliminary findings in March.
Despite heavy bombardment of Lebanon and a late ground assault, the military was unable to fulfill the two stated goals of the conflict -- crushing the Hezbollah guerrillas and returning two captured Israeli soldiers.
