Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a Channel 14 interview that he intends to appoint Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as commander of the IDF Central Command, replacing Maj. Gen. Avi Blot. The announcement was made on air without the Chief of Staff being notified in advance, contrary to standard procedure for senior appointments, according to Channel 12. The IDF reportedly does not intend to cooperate with the move.
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced late Sunday night on Channel 14 that he intends to appoint Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as the next commander of the IDF Central Command, replacing Maj. Gen. Avi Blot. The announcement was made without prior coordination with the Chief of Staff, contrary to standard procedure. According to Channel 12, the IDF does not intend to cooperate with the move, escalating the civil-military rift.
The announcement follows a series of public clashes between Katz and Blot earlier Sunday. Katz criticized Blot for acting contrary to ministerial policy on administrative detention of Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria, specifically regarding the case of Tal Yanon Dardik. Katz announced he was advancing Bar Kalifa's appointment, as The Zioneer reported. The Chief of Staff was not informed of the decision, and the military's refusal to cooperate marks a further escalation.
As The Zioneer reported on July 28, Katz convinced Bar Kalifa to accept the role after he had initially declined following a request from the Chief of Staff. The dispute centers on the administrative detention of Dardik, which has become a flashpoint. A commentary published Sunday evening accused Katz of prioritizing political interests over security considerations, and noted that Blot is popular among Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.
It remains unclear how the Chief of Staff will respond to the appointment, and whether the IDF's refusal to cooperate will prevent the move from being formalized. The future of the Central Command leadership remains uncertain.
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