In a joint statement Monday evening, Defense Minister Israel Katz and local council heads from Judea and Samaria said Maj. Gen. Avi Blot is performing his duties well. The council heads expressed strong appreciation for Blot and rejected the campaign against both Katz and the Central Command chief.
Monday evening's joint statement from Defense Minister Israel Katz and the heads of local councils in Judea and Samaria, affirming that Maj. Gen. Avi Blot is performing his duties well and rejecting the campaign against him, caps a day of rapid developments in the public controversy over the future of the Central Command chief.
Earlier Monday, the Yesha Council—the umbrella organization of Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria—issued a series of statements expressing strong support for Blot, praising his 'offensive military leadership' against terror and his close work with the settlement movement. The council also announced that local leaders would meet with Katz in the afternoon. By midday, several council heads had formally opposed Katz's earlier announcement that Blot would be replaced, and senior leaders were reportedly working to arrange a reconciliation between the minister and the commander.
The joint statement followed a meeting at the Kirya in Tel Aviv. Katz emphasized that Blot has not been dismissed and enjoys full backing. The council heads expressed strong appreciation for both Katz and Blot and explicitly rejected what they described as a campaign against the minister and the commander. The meeting also covered the expansion of communities and counter-terror operations in Judea and Samaria.
The controversy erupted over the weekend, when Katz announced on live television that Blot would be replaced by Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa, citing dissatisfaction with Blot's handling of administrative measures against Jewish residents. The IDF immediately pushed back, stating the announcement was not coordinated with the Chief of Staff and that Blot retains the full confidence of the General Staff. Monday's joint statement effectively restores public unity between the political and military echelons on the Central Command, ensuring continuity in a sensitive sector.
8 developments
- StrongKatz reverses course: Central Command chief Blot not dismissed, performing well
- DevelopingDefense Minister Katz to re-examine administrative measures against settlers, demands policy shift from IDF general
- DevelopingIDF Central Command chief backs Samaria Brigade commander amid right-wing campaign
- DevelopingSamaria deputy council head backs Central Command chief Blot as 'best for settlement'
Source and signal
- Open-source intake