Kaplinsky Quits, Barbs Peretz 22:41 Jan 21, '07 / 2 Shevat 5767

(IsraelNN.com) Maj. Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky included a stinging message to Defense Minister Peretz in his announcement that he was withdrawing his candidacy for Chief of general Staff.

"Since you decided, according to reports, to appoint a Chief of Staff soon instead of waiting for the facts related to the war to be clarified, I feel that it won't be appropriate for me to take on the Chief of Staff job at this moment in time," wrote Kaplinsky wrote in the letter he sent to Defense Minister Amir Peretz Sunday.

Kaplinsky is Lt. Gen. Halutz's deputy and was considered a top candidate to replace him. alongside Maj. Gen Gabi Ashkenazi, who eventually won the appointment.