Ganz wants Herzli, Netanyahu wants Zamir: Behind the storm of the appointment of the chief of staff

Despite the ombudsman's clarification, the defense minister continues with the selection process for a sensitive position until the election.

Amir Bohbot

22/06/2022

Wednesday, 22 June 2022, 13:45 Updated: 14:19

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In the video: Ganz refers to the appointment of the next chief of staff (video: streaming)

The announcement of the dissolution of the coalition and the upcoming election campaign put the race for chiefs of staff for political turmoil and have already managed to tarnish the process of electing the 23rd IDF chief of staff. A decade in which those involved in the government and the IDF tried to maintain a relatively clean procedure for choosing one of the most important and sensitive positions in the country.

Three generals were chosen by Ganz to run for the post of chief of staff: The opinion of many in the defense establishment as the leading candidate has apparently already been chosen by Ganz, despite the fact that his extended family is known to be close to the Likud party and the Betar movement.

In fact, before the recent political events, it seems that all that is left is to complete the professional procedure and announce it.

The second candidate - former Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Eyal Zamir, who in the previous round was the leading candidate of former Prime Minister Netanyahu for the position of 22nd Chief of Staff, but then Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman managed to declare Aviv Kochavi in ​​a brilliant political move, contrary to Netanyahu's opinion This time, Maj. Gen. Zamir, who was Netanyahu's military secretary, is considered the leading candidate for the post of prime minister.

The third candidate is Maj. Gen. Maj. Gen. Strick, who grew up in Dimona, enjoys an impressive resume and rich combat experience, as well as the appreciation and pressure exerted by senior Likud figures. Hezbollah.

Gantz's favorite.

Halevi (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Given these connections, it can be argued that if Netanyahu is able, in the context of such and other political changes, to appoint the next chief of staff - it is very possible that he will be General Zamir, and Strick will be appointed deputy chief of staff.

Gantz, who is entrusted with leading the exchange of chiefs of staff, is criticized by the defense establishment and the IDF in particular for not pre-empting the process of electing the chief of staff, even at the cost of creating a reality in which current chief of staff Aviv Kochavi will feel "lame duck" A new chief of staff more than six months before the end of his term.

"Once Gantz realized that the political system was facing an abyss, and there was a high chance that the government would disband, he had to approve the process of electing the chief of staff," said a security source, adding: "Netanyahu wants his own chief of staff. His agenda. He probably knows the runner much less well than a nightingale. So he inevitably prefers a chief of staff to see things face to face with him.

Committed to him.

In the end, "the prime minister is the supreme commander of the army."

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Netanyahu's favorite.

Zamir, in the center.

From right and left - Halevi and Izenkot respectively (Photo: IDF Spokesman)

Another security source criticized the situation to which the system was dragged in such a substantial procedure.

"A new defense minister, a new chief of staff, and half a new chief of staff - it's not healthy. But there is a worse scenario - that a government is not formed within a month and that there is a transitional government that will be appointed anyway. Before he knew it there was an election. "

Another security source criticized the situation to which the system was dragged in such a substantial procedure.

"A new defense minister, a new chief of staff, and half a new chief of staff - it's not healthy. But there is a worse scenario - that a government is not formed within a month and that there is a transitional government that will be appointed anyway. Before he knew it there was an election. "

Will they agree on the same candidate?

Ganz and Netanyahu (Photo: Government Press Office, Amos Ben Gershom)

The source repeated Gantz's statement today, announcing that he would discuss the issue with Netanyahu himself.

"Ganz intends to discuss this with Bibi and if he obtains agreement from him, it could very well happen that it is said that Netanyahu does not oppose the lectures.

"Torch has no experience - extending stellar tenure is a double benefit"

Security officials said in closed-door talks today that it is right to extend the tenure of Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi by a few months, in order to allow the IDF to proceed with a professional and correct procedure.

This means that the election of the next deputy chief of staff and immediately afterwards decisions on the appointment of generals and the retirement of some of them

. Of Kochavi and said that "under the security reality, it felt right to keep Kochavi in ​​the post of chief of staff, especially when the next prime minister, Yair Lapid, has no significant experience in security."

According to them, it is desirable to have a veteran and experienced chief of staff who will give him security backing. "He must not be replaced.

"The extension of Kochavi's tenure is a double profit, because both the chief of staff stays with the experience and seniority, as does the deputy chief of staff."

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