Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Channel 14 overnight that he is replacing Maj. Gen. Avi Blot with Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa. The IDF General Staff immediately issued a rare public statement saying the move was not coordinated with the Chief of Staff and that Blot will not be replaced. The dispute, which has been building for weeks over Katz's criticism of Blot's handling of administrative measures in Judea and Samaria, escalated into a public crisis.
Overnight Sunday, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Channel 14 that he is replacing Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Blot with Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa. The IDF General Staff immediately responded with a rare public statement, saying the announcement was not coordinated with Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and that there is no intention to replace commanders in key positions during this sensitive period.
At 23:20 Jerusalem on Sunday, The Zioneer reported that Katz's live-TV announcement had sparked a political and military crisis, with initial reports describing the move as made without the required authority. By 23:20, the IDF had issued multiple statements disavowing the announcement, each iteration clarifying that the dismissal was uncoordinated and that Blot retains the military's full confidence. Later, at 00:21 Jerusalem Monday, MK Son Har Melch accused Blot of treating Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria as enemies. At 00:26, former general Ofer Winter expressed support for Blot, aligning with opposition figures. By 02:43, Katz's office confirmed that the Chief of Staff had recommended Bar Kalifa for the role in April, and that Katz interviewed him in June before deciding to approve the appointment.
The friction between Katz and Blot has been building for weeks over Blot's handling of administrative detention orders against Jewish residents, particularly the case of Tal Yanon Dardik. As The Zioneer reported on July 28, Blot demanded to keep Dardik in administrative detention contrary to Katz's position. Katz has accused Blot of acting against government policy, while Blot insists on maintaining security assessments. Katz had been advancing Bar Kalifa's appointment since July 28, according to earlier reports.
The IDF's latest statement makes clear that Blot remains in post, but the political fallout is ongoing. Katz's office has not commented on the IDF's rejection of the dismissal, and it remains unclear whether the appointment will proceed.
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