Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday published a detailed statement denying 'as an absolute lie' reports that he called for the dismissal of Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Blot. Katz said the Chief of Staff recommended Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa for the post in April, that he approved the recommendation and interviewed Bar Kalifa in June, and that the appointment process was already underway when a participant in the interview called for Blot's dismissal, to which he replied 'no.' Katz also warned that a future government led by Gadi Eizenkot with Yair Golan as defense minister could endanger settlements and Israel's security.
Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday morning published a detailed statement denying 'as an absolute lie' reports that he called for the dismissal of Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Blot. Katz provided a timeline showing that Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir recommended Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa for the post in April, that he approved the recommendation and interviewed Bar Kalifa in June, and that the appointment process was already underway when a participant in the interview called for Blot's dismissal — to which Katz said he replied 'no.' Katz also warned that a future government led by Gadi Eizenkot with Yair Golan as defense minister could endanger settlements and Israel's security. The statement is the latest development in a rapidly escalating public dispute between the political and military echelons.
The controversy erupted Sunday night when Defense Minister Katz announced on live television that he was replacing Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Blot with Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa, prompting a rare public rebuke from the IDF Chief of Staff, who stated the move was not coordinated. The earliest reports suggested Katz had dismissed Blot on air, but within hours Katz issued clarifications. As The Zioneer reported early Monday, a commentary argued that Katz did not announce immediate dismissal but rather a future replacement based on the Chief of Staff’s recommendation. By 10:22 Jerusalem, Katz had released multiple statements denying the dismissal claim and providing the appointment timeline. The thread shows the narrative evolved from initial reports of a firing to a detailed denial and timeline.
As The Zioneer reported on Sunday, Katz's office confirmed that the Chief of Staff recommended Bar Kalifa in April, and that Katz interviewed him in June. The dispute centers on the current commander, Maj. Gen. Avi Blot, whom Katz criticized for handling administrative measures against Jewish residents in Judea and Samaria. The Zioneer's Eye on Zion analysis noted that the friction reflects a broader struggle over civilian oversight of military appointments during an election period.
What remains open: the exact nature of the coordination between Katz and the Chief of Staff before the televised announcement. The IDF initially said the move was not coordinated; Katz's office insists it followed military recommendations. No independent verification of the full sequence of events has emerged, and the Chief of Staff has not publicly commented on Katz's latest timeline.
10 developments
- StrongIsraeli the source reacts to Katz-Blott controversy, seeks Drucker's criticism
- StrongKatz: Timeline of Central Command chief appointment predates interview, denies on-air decision
- DevelopingPolitical commentary accuses Defense Minister Katz of 'ugly manipulation' in Central Command appointment
- DevelopingFalse report of defense minister firing general believed by public, analysis says
Source and signal
- Open-source intake