Defense Minister Israel Katz met with local council heads from Judea and Samaria on Monday evening and reiterated that Maj. Gen. Avi Blot, head of Central Command, has not been dismissed, according to Israel Hayom. The meeting follows Katz's earlier reversal of his televised announcement that Blot would be replaced.
Defense Minister Israel Katz met with heads of local councils in Judea and Samaria on Monday evening and reiterated that Maj. Gen. Avi Blot, commander of the IDF Central Command, has not been dismissed, according to Israel Hayom. The meeting came hours after Katz reversed his earlier televised announcement that he intended to replace Blot, a move that had sparked widespread criticism.
The sequence of events on Monday unfolded rapidly. At 20:24 Jerusalem, Katz told the council heads that Blot is performing his role well and that there is no intention to dismiss him, effectively reversing his earlier live statement. The Zioneer reported the reversal at 20:30. Minutes later, at 20:32, Katz and the council heads issued a joint statement expressing appreciation for Blot and rejecting a campaign against both Katz and the Central Command chief. The meeting tonight appears to have reinforced the reversal and reaffirmed unity with local leaders.
Earlier Monday, commentator Shachar Glik corrected his own criticism of Katz, noting that after reviewing the footage, Katz did not dismiss Blot on live television but rather announced a decision that had already been published, calling the narrative a "false and deliberate campaign" by journalists and politicians. The episode has highlighted tensions around the defense minister's handling of senior military appointments.
4 developments
- StrongKatz, Judea-Samaria council heads issue joint statement backing Blot, rejecting campaign
- StrongIsraeli the source reacts to Katz-Blott controversy, seeks Drucker's criticism
- DevelopingChannel 14 clip shows Katz directly linked Bar Kalifa appointment to Blot dispute
- StrongCommentator Shachar Glik corrects claim: Katz did not fire Blot live, decision was pre-existing
Source and signal
- Open-source intake