An analysis published Monday morning argues that Defense Minister Israel Katz's campaign to replace Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Blot is 'childish' and will ultimately fail, as the Chief of Staff will not allow the ouster. The piece praises Blot's tenure as the best in decades, describing him as an aggressive officer who crushed terrorism, and criticizes Katz for joining what it calls a 'gang of anarchists on the far right' that is defaming the general.
The analysis, published Monday morning, adds to the growing chorus of criticism from the right against Defense Minister Israel Katz's handling of the Central Command leadership. As The Zioneer reported at 08:31, N13 journalists Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh similarly described Katz's move as 'infantile' and noted it was drawing severe criticism from the right. Earlier, at 02:43, Katz's office confirmed that the recommendation to appoint Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as Blot's successor originated from Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir in April, a move the IDF had said was not coordinated. The current dispute centers on Katz's criticism of Blot for his handling of administrative measures against Jewish residents in Judea and Samaria, which some right-wing politicians have accused Blot of treating hilltop youth as enemies. The new commentary praises Blot as the best Central Command chief in decades, noting his aggressive counter-terror operations including the clearance of refugee camps in Tulkarem, Jenin, and Nablus, and his integration of farm outposts into Israel's security doctrine. It warns that Katz's approach is 'childish' and that the Chief of Staff will block the dismissal.
4 developments
- StrongCommentary accuses Katz of prioritizing political interests over security in Blot conflict
- DevelopingKatz: I rejected call to dismiss Central Command chief, appointment was already underway
- StrongKatz: Timeline of Central Command chief appointment predates interview, denies on-air decision
- DevelopingCommentator asks what Givati soldiers think of IDF top brass–Defense Minister rift
Source and signal
- Open-source intake