National Security Advisor Dr. Uzi Arad requested a meeting with IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gabi Ashkenazi, affording him an opportunity to apologize to the military commander.

According to a Channel 2 News report on Tuesday night, the �senior official� in the Prime Minister�s Office quoted earlier in the week was none other than Dr. Arad, who explained to the IDF chief that he respects him as a commander and in no way intended to personally attack his character.

The reports earlier in the week stated the �senior official� labeled Ashkenazi the head of the soldiers� parents� association, apparently critical of his well-known position, to bring Gilad Shalit home event at the cost of releasing terrorists.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)