Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday that the Chief of Staff's recommendation for the next Central Command chief was received months before his televised interview, and the appointment process was already underway. He dismissed claims that the decision was made following the interview, calling the narrative 'not withstanding the facts.'
Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a statement Monday morning reiterating that the Chief of Staff's recommendation for the next Central Command commander was received months before his televised interview, and that the appointment process was already underway. Katz dismissed claims that the decision was a reaction to the interview, saying the narrative 'does not stand up to the facts.' The statement comes as the public dispute between the political echelon and the IDF leadership continues to escalate.
The controversy erupted Sunday night when Katz announced on Channel 14 that he intends to appoint Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as Central Command chief, replacing Maj. Gen. Avi Blot. The IDF responded immediately, saying the move was not coordinated with Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. By early Monday (00:28 Jerusalem), Katz's office clarified that Zamir had recommended Bar Kalifa for the role as early as April, and that Katz personally interviewed him in June. Multiple statements from the Defense Minister's office throughout the night refined the timeline, each emphasizing that the recommendation preceded the interview. At 10:38 Monday, Katz called the accusation that he dismissed Blot an 'absolute lie.'
The friction centers on Katz's criticism of Blot's handling of administrative measures against Jewish residents in Judea and Samaria, as The Zioneer reported Sunday night. The Defense Minister has framed the appointment as part of his policy to promote commanders with a proven record of offensiveness and success in the War of Resilience, in line with the security policy he leads with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Chief of Staff's office has not commented on the latest statement.
It remains unclear whether the public dispute will affect the formal appointment process. The IDF has not issued a response to Katz's latest statement, and Maj. Gen. Blot continues to serve as Central Command chief.
12 developments
- DevelopingDefense Minister Katz advances appointment of Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as Central Command chief
- DevelopingChannel 14 clip shows Katz directly linked Bar Kalifa appointment to Blot dispute
- DevelopingChannel 14 commentator presents timeline defending Katz in Bar Kalifa appointment dispute
- DevelopingBitton Rosen accuses chief of staff of acting on 'leftist spins' in Bar Kalifa appointment dispute
Source and signal
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