[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: An alternative spin: Criticism by Deputy Defense
Minister Danny Danon, Foreign Minister Liberman and others served to send a
clear message that PM Netanyahu could only hold back so much and that
despite tremendous pressure from Washington it is only a matter of time
before the rules of engagement will change dramatically.

What "rules of engagement"?

Unless a decision has been taken at the Security Cabinet meeting taking
place right now, the current "rules of engagement" have most of the rockets
and weapons productions facilities in the Gaza Strip off limits. For a
moment it appeared that Israel was changing the game when a home was leveled
despite the human shields who refused to get off the roof. But that was a
one time event.

Let me put this in blunt terms: under the current policy, if the choice is
between risking my life and the life of my family and risking the life of
Gazans who decide to be human shields the current policy of the Government
of Israel is to risk my life and the life of my family.

Now it may be that there will be a change in this policy.

I sure hope there will be.

And if there is a change, the explanation behind closed doors most
definitely will cite the criticism of Danon, Liberman and others.

So did it make sense to dismiss Danon?

We'll know better when we see how this whole thing plays out....]

PM Netanyahu's Decision to Dismiss Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon from
his Post
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

The Government Secretariat is currently updating ministers regarding Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to dismiss MK Danny Danon from his
post as Deputy Defense Minister, effective immediately.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "At a time when the Government of Israel and
the IDF are in the midst of a military campaign against the terrorist
organizations and is taking determined action to maintain the security of
Israel's citizens, it cannot be that the Deputy Defense Minister will
sharply attack the leadership of the country regarding the campaign. These
sharp remarks on the Deputy Defense Minister's part are irresponsible,
especially given his position. They also serve the Hamas terrorist
organization as a tool to attack the government with as may be seen on the
media networks of Hamas itself. In light of his remarks, which express a
lack of confidence in the government and in the prime minister personally,
it was expected that the Deputy Defense Minister would take responsibility
for his actions and resign. Since he has not done so, I have decided –
pursuant to the authority granted to me by Article 26(3) of Basic Law: The
Government – to dismiss him from his post."