Defense Minister Israel Katz responded Monday to the controversy over his on-air announcement about replacing Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Blot, stating that the Chief of Staff's recommendation and approval had already been received months before the interview. Katz also said the storm is a media attempt to distract from the real question of what would happen if Yair Golan, who he said threatened to dismiss Maj. Gen. David Zini, becomes Defense Minister.
Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday morning escalated the civil-military crisis triggered by his televised announcement on Sunday night, claiming that Yair Golan — chairman of the Democrats and a candidate for defense minister — had previously threatened to dismiss Maj. Gen. David Zini. The new allegation adds a political dimension to the controversy over Katz's appointment of Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as the next Central Command chief, a move that the IDF said was not coordinated with the Chief of Staff.
The thread of the crisis began Sunday night (Aug 2, 23:22 Jerusalem) when Katz announced on Channel 14's Patriots program that he intended to replace Maj. Gen. Avi Blot with Bar Kalifa. The IDF immediately issued a rare public rebuke, stating the announcement was not coordinated with Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. By early Monday (Mon 00:28 Jerusalem), Katz's office clarified that Zamir had recommended Bar Kalifa for the role in April and that Katz interviewed him in June. Katz later denied calling for Blot's dismissal, saying the process was already underway. The timeline shows the recommendation predates the interview, but the public timing of the announcement remains a point of contention.
As The Zioneer reported in its Eye on Zion analysis (Mon 10:21 Jerusalem), Chief of Staff Zamir froze all senior appointments in response to the political intervention, asserting the IDF's professional autonomy during an election period. The crisis has drawn reactions from across the spectrum: former IDF general Ofer Winter reportedly backed Blot, while MK Son Har Melch accused Blot of treating hilltop youth and pioneers as enemies. The friction centers on Blot's handling of administrative measures against Jewish residents in Judea and Samaria, which Katz has criticized.
The claim regarding Golan and Zini remains unverified. Katz's office has not provided further details, and the IDF has not commented on the specific allegation. The exact timeline and scope of the replacement — including the status of Maj. Gen. Blot — continue to be disputed between the Defense Ministry and the military command.
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
- Open-source intake