ISRAELI MILITARY APPOINTS SLEW OF NEW SENIOR COMMANDERS

Israeli Military Appoints Slew of New Senior Commanders

The naming of Shlomi Binder as head of Military Intelligence is expected to draw criticism over his involvement in failures preceding the October 7 massacre

May 03rd, 15PM May 03rd, 15PM

The Israeli military announced a host of new appointments to its top brass on Thursday following discussions between IDF Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, with some considered to be controversial choices.

The most significant announcement was that Brig. Gen. Shlomi Binder, the head of the IDF's Operations Division, will replace Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva as head of Military Intelligence. Brig. Gen. Avi Blut, head of the IDF Command and Staff college, will replace Yehuda Fuchs as Central Command chief.

The appointment of Binder will likely draw criticism from both within the ranks of the military and outside it. He is expected to be at the focus of investigations as head of the Operations Division head, which collapsed when Hamas invaded Israel on October 7. The army was dysfunctional during the first crucial hours, during which the residents of the Gaza border communities in southern Israel were abandoned.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi approved the appointments, which far-right cabinet ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich attacked.

Another appointee, Brig. Gen. Dan Goldfus, commander of the 98th Division, which fought in the Gaza Strip until recently, is also expected to be investigated when the time comes. However, the incidents that he was involved in transpired after October 7. He will be appointed head of the Northern Corps and the maneuvering division of the ground forces.

Two months ago, Goldfus was called in for a clarification after he called on leaders of all sides "to be worthy of the fighters who have sacrificed their lives" – for which he was reprimanded.

The IDF also announced two other promotions. Brig. Gen. David Bar-Khalifa, commander of the 36th Division, which also fought in Gaza, will be appointed head of the Personnel Division. Brig Gen. Aviad Dagan, former head of Hatzerim Air Force Base, will be appointed to lead the communications division.

The IDF said that the promoted officers "stood out in field combat and at headquarters" during the war. It noted that their promotion was agreed upon during the war "at the end of a lengthy process" approved by Defense Minister Gallant.

Ben-Gvir immediately responded by calling for Gallant's removal. "Gallant, among the leaders of the [national security] concept and one of the people prominently responsible for the October 7 disaster, has no mandate for the approval of the appointments of generals and to shape the IDF's next general staff." He added: "The appointments he decided on with the chief of staff indicate how he shows absolute contempt for the public. I call on the prime minister to fire Gallant. He does not deserve to continue serving as defense minister."

Smotrich also attacked the appointments, calling on Netanyahu "to put the defense minister and the chief of staff in their place" and "to stop this scandal." Smotrich added that "regardless of the identity of the officers, the appointments of IDF generals who will lead the restoration of the army after the failure cannot be made by the chief of staff who is signed onto the military failure. It lacks legitimacy. That's not how you fix things. That's not how you restore trust and not how you appoint a new army leadership whose attitudes need to be repair and replacement."

Opposition leader Yair Lapid commented: "The appointment of IDF officers is the rule and duty of the chief of staff and defense minister. The wanton attempt by Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, two shady figures who never really served in the army, to control the military as well will not succeed."

Lapid added, "If anyone should resign, it's this wanton and destructive government under whose watch we suffered the worst massacre in the history of the country and has since run a failing and danger diplomatic campaign."

2024-05-03T12:43:32Z dg43tfdfdgfd