Defense Minister Israel Katz approved Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir's recommendation to appoint Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as commander of Central Command, the IDF announced Monday. Katz also signed off on dozens of promotions and appointments at the colonel and lieutenant-colonel ranks, including commanders of major infantry brigades and naval units. Bar Kalifa is expected to take up the post in 2027.
Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday evening formally approved Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir's recommendation to appoint Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as the next commander of Central Command, effective 2027. In a coordinated announcement with the IDF Spokesperson, Katz also signed off on dozens of promotions and appointments at the colonel and lieutenant-colonel ranks, including commanders for the Golani, Nahal, Paratroopers, Givati, Kfir, and Commando brigades; the 7th and 188th Armored Brigades; naval units Shayetet 13, the submarine flotilla, and the missile boat flotilla; and staff positions across operations, logistics, and technology directorates. The approval marks the resolution of a rare public dispute between the minister and the military leadership that erupted over the weekend.
The public friction began Sunday night when Katz announced on live television his intention to replace Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Blot with Bar Kalifa. The IDF issued a rare rebuke, saying the move was not coordinated with the Chief of Staff. By early Monday morning, Katz's office clarified that Zamir had recommended Bar Kalifa for the post in April and requested Katz interview him in June; the minister was impressed and decided to proceed. Hours later, both Katz and Zamir publicly backed Blot, with Zamir telling the general he was 'not going anywhere.' The formal approval at 19:52 Monday, announced jointly with the IDF, effectively closed the episode. The Zioneer's analysis at 20:06 linked the simultaneous approval of colonel-rank promotions to a political deal clearing the senior appointments bottleneck.
The dispute centered on Katz's dissatisfaction with Blot's handling of administrative measures against Jewish residents in Judea and Samaria, as the minister stated in a Channel 14 interview. Katz's office confirmed the recommendation originated from the military, not the political echelon. As The Zioneer reported earlier, Zamir had frozen senior appointments through 2026, neutralizing political influence over promotions, after the initial rift.
Bar Kalifa is expected to assume Central Command in 2027. Blot remains in his post. The broader friction over political involvement in military appointments, particularly regarding the Civil Administration head, remains a latent tension.
3 developments
- DevelopingDefense Minister Katz advances appointment of Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as Central Command chief
- StrongKatz rejects claims he called for dismissal of incoming Central Command chief
- DevelopingChannel 14 clip shows Katz directly linked Bar Kalifa appointment to Blot dispute
- DevelopingKatz associates accuse Zamir of promoting Bar Kalifa to block Netanyahu from appointing him military secretary
Source and signal
- Open-source intake