Defense Minister Bnei Gantz is not wasting time: Three days after receiving the approval of Attorney General Gali Bahrav-Myara, he began speeding up the process of appointing the next chief of staff.
Ganz announced yesterday that he had reduced the list of candidates from three to two.
The candidate removed is Maj. Gen. Joel Strick, who previously served as commander of the Home Front Command and the Northern Command, and in his most recent position as commander of the Land Arm.
From the outset, Strick's candidacy was considered hopeless - in part because he did not serve in the deputy chief of staff's necessary station - and he is now expected to retire from the IDF.
There are now two candidates left in the race: the former deputy chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and the incumbent, chief of staff Herzli Halevi. Will consult in the coming days, before deciding.
The exception may be Benjamin Netanyahu - whom Gantz has already made clear he will consult with, as someone who served as defense minister - whom Zamir previously served as his military secretary.
Ganz will try to complete the selection process in the near future, and it is possible that he will announce as early as next week the identity of the chief of staff who will replace Aviv Kochavi on January 1, who will end 4 years in office. With the Chief of Staff to be elected), and subsequently the next Chief of Staff will be able to go on vacation, after which he will properly prepare for his entry into office.
There are quite a few similarities between the two candidates.
General Eyal Zamir with General Herzli Halevi, Photo: Yossi-Zeliger
Both are Sybil Cervant in the classic sense of the definition: loyal public servants, absent-minded, and far from the political corridors.
Therefore, the recent attempt by various political elements to label them as candidates on behalf of (Halevy as a leftist, and Zamir as a babysitter) has been fundamentally ridiculous.
It is doubtful if anyone knows who they voted for in the election, and it does not matter anyway;
Zamir and Halevi serve the kingdom, not the king.
Halevy has a richer combat record, a departure from the track he did in the special units and infantry, compared to Zamir's armored track.
At the senior levels, this record is balanced: both were Southern Command generals and deputy chiefs of staff, and Halevy was also head of the Armed Forces while Zamir served, as mentioned, as the prime minister's military secretary.
This mix of staff and field roles gave both of them the necessary preparation for the post of chief of staff.
Who will be the heir?
Chief of Staff Kochavi, Photo: Yossi Zeliger
Who will he choose?
Defense Minister Bnei Gantz, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
A similar policy in the South
In the Southern Command, Zamir and Halevy led a similar policy, the main point of which was an effort to deter Hamas and deprive it of capabilities, without degenerating the South into constant fighting.
Contrary to the empty statements of politicians, none of them expressed themselves in terms of decision-making;
Although they both prepared plans for a possible occupation of the Strip, they did not recommend them in understanding the price involved.
Gantz, presumably, will now meet with the two again, and ask to hear from them about their plans if they are appointed chief of staff. Naturally, the main thing will deal with classic military matters: from power building, to Iran, Hezbollah and Gaza. Civil-public: The IDF is in a deepening motivation crisis, and is suffering from a decline in public trust in it.
Undertakes, therefore, to find out how the next chief of staff intends to change the trend, and to face a host of additional challenges - from attrition among fighters, permanent staff and the reserve system, through the integration of women, to the increasing interventions of IDF rabbis and politicians.
Zamir and Halevi are familiar with these issues from their past roles, and from their constant friction with the various populations that serve in the IDF. The Israeli who loses a battle.
Who are the candidates?
Gen. Herzli Halevi, Deputy Chief of Staff
Age:
54 years old
Personal life:
Married to Sharon and father of 4 residences: Born and raised in Jerusalem, lives in the village of Oranim
Education and training:
holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy and business administration from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a master's degree in national resource management from the University of National Security in Washington
Previous positions:
Deputy Chief of Staff, Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Command, Chief of the Armed Forces, Commander of the General Staff Regiment, Brigadier General Jenin, Brigadier General Brigadier General, Head of the Operations Division at the Armed Forces, Commander of the Galilee Division.
Chances are much higher.
General Halevi, Photo: Yossi Zeliger
General Eyal Zamir, former Deputy Chief of Staff
Age:
56 years old
Personal life:
Married to Orna and father of 3
Residence:
Born and raised in Eilat, lives in Hod Hasharon Education and training: Graduate of POM and the National Security College. Bachelor's degree
In Political Science from the University of Haifa.
Previous positions:
Maj. Commander of the Company Commanders and Battalion Commanders Course, 75th Battalion Commander.
The first chief of staff to emerge in armor? General Zamir, Photo: Yossi Zeliger
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