Danny Ardati, who heads the Prime Minister�s National Security Council on Monday, dismissed Brig.-Gen. (reserves) Nitzan Nuriel, who heads the government�s counter-terror unit. In reality, Ardati informed Nuriel that his contract, which expires at the end of 2009, will not be renewed.

The two have had a difficult relationship, with colleagues attributing the friction to �personality clashes�, but the reason for the decision stems from a classified letter sent to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni by Nuriel without clearing it with his superior, Ardati. In actuality, Ardati was not even informed of the letter.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)