Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Amos Gilad, Director of the Defense Ministry Diplomatic-Security Branch, contacted the Prime Minister's Bureau last night (Tuesday), 24.2.09, and requested to meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and apologize for the remarks that were published in his name.

Prime Minister Olmert agreed to the meeting, during which Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Gilad delivered a letter in which he stated as follows: "I would like to apologize for what I said, in the Ma'ariv newspaper on 18.2.09, against the Prime Minister and the Government.  The remarks were unjustified, were said in error and it would have been better if they had not been said."

Following the apology, Prime Minister Olmert wrote to Maj.-Gen. Gilad in reply: "Following our meeting, in the framework of which you apologized to me for the unjustified remarks you made, in error, against me and against the Government, and in light of my appreciation of you and your dedicated work over the years on behalf of the State of Israel and its security, I intend to bring this matter to an immediate close."