The coveted positions: Chief of the Security Service and Commander of the Southern Command • More on the topic: Operations and Navy Division • Appointments require the approval of Defense Minister Bnei Gantz
Chief of Staff Kochavi
Photography:
Gideon Markovich
Tension at the top of the IDF:
Chief of Staff Major General Aviv Kochavi is expected to announce in the coming days his decisions regarding the placement of generals in the IDF General Staff. On the agenda: key positions such as General of the Southern Command, Chief of the Security Service, Chief of Operations The ICT Division and more.
The appointments require the approval of Defense Minister Bnei Gantz.
The two most coveted positions in the round of appointments are head of the intelligence division and commander of the Southern Command.
The position of head of the Armed Forces is very sensitive, and therefore also subject to the decision of the Minister of Defense. Another significant position that is expected to be opened is the head of the Operations Division, currently under the command of Major General Aharon Haliva.
Maj. Gen. Haliva himself is running for the post of head of the security services, as is the outgoing commander of the Gaza Division, Brigadier General Eliezer Toledano.
The current head of the Armed Forces, Maj. Gen. Tamir Heiman, may replace Maj. Gen. Herzli Halevi in the Southern Command, in which case Toledano may be appointed head of the Operations Division in place of Haliwa.
But as stated, no decision has yet been made on the issue.
The Brigadier General is waiting for promotion
It will be recalled that in November, the Chief of Staff, with the approval of the Minister of Defense, decided to appoint General Herzli Halevi as the next Deputy Chief of Staff.
Halevy defeated the commander of the land arm, Joel Strick, who is apparently expected to study abroad and run for the post of chief of staff from that position.
Therefore, it is likely that the role of commander of the land arm will also be opened for deployment soon.
The IDF has decided that the position of commander of the land arm will not be the first position for a general, and since this is not a coveted position, at least one leading general has recently said that he is not interested in fulfilling it.
Another position that may be opened for placement in the next round of appointments is the head of the Technology and Logistics Division, currently under the command of Major General Itzik Turgeman.
At least one officer said he was not interested in getting into it.
The position of IDF Spokesman, which is currently being filled by Brigadier General Hedi Zilberman, may also open.
Brigadier General Zilberman is one of the sub-generals nominated for promotion, and if he is promoted in this round, he may be appointed head of the ICT Division or an IDF attaché in Washington, if the position is opened.
Apart from Brigadier General Toledano and Brigadier General Zilberman, the brigades whose names are mentioned as possible candidates for promotion in this round are Brigadier General Eran Niv, Head of the Shiloah Division in the Planning Division, and Brigadier General Oded Basiuk, Head of the Planning Division.
The three candidates to replace the esteemed Navy commander, Major General Eli Sharvit, are three naval brigadiers: Chief of Staff, Brigadier General David Selma, Chief of Navy, Brigadier General Eyal Harel, and Brigadier General Dror Friedman.
Meanwhile, in the coming days, the outgoing head of the Operations Division, Brigadier General Yaniv Asur, is expected to take up his position as the next head of the IDF and replace Major General Moti Almoz, who will retire from the IDF.
Another issue on the agenda these days is the extension of Chief of Staff Kochavi's term by one year, to four years. Kochavi is expected to complete three years in office next January, and the extension of his term by one year requires a decision by the political echelon.
