The former chief of Israel’s armed forces is suing a bank for leaking
information on his stock holdings to the press. A lawyer for retired
Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz confirmed media reports Monday that his client
was pursuing action against Bank Leumi over revelations that he liquidated his portfolio a few
days into last year’s Lebanon war.
The leak stirred public anger against
Halutz, who at the time was leading Israel’s campaign againstHezbollah. He denied wrongdoing and described the stocks sale as
a routine move he had planned in advance. Halutz’s lawyer, Shmuel
Ostlander, told Army Radio that his client was prepared to donate damages
received from Bank Leumi to charity. Media reports put the claim at between
$150,000 and $220,000. The bank declined comment, saying it was not aware
of Halutz’s claim having been filed yet.
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