Stocks Scandal Spells Doom of Embattled Israeli Army Chief

Its just a big old Monoply Game and we all don't even rate peing the top hat or the iron.

Stocks Scandal Spells Doom of Embattled Israeli Army Chief:

Israel's army chief, under fire for selling shares hours before launching an offensive in Lebanon, was looking set to become the first head to roll in the outcry over the state's handling of the month-long war.

Israel's media have piled opprobrium on Dan Halutz since the Maariv newspaper revealed Tuesday that he had sold shares hours before the start of the Israeli offensive in Lebanon on July 12.

The story, confirmed by Halutz himself, has focused the anger of many in a country struggling to come to terms with the less than decisive outcome of its war against the fundamentalist Hezbollah militia sparked on July 12.

'There's an old Romanian saying that goes like this: 'the country is burning, but grandma is combing her hair.' The country was on fire, and all that interested Halutz was his investment portfolio,' member of parliament Colette Avital said Tuesday.

Resignation calls have come from parliament but also from the highest circles of the defence establishment.

Defence Minister Amir Peretz, also under fire for his performance since the start of the war on July 12, defended the army chief's 'loyalty and dedication'.

'His attention is entirely devoted to the war and the success of the army's missions,' said Peretz in a statement.