Defense Minister Israel Katz's office said Monday that Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir recommended Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as the next Central Command chief at the end of April. Katz interviewed Bar Kalifa in June and accepted the recommendation, with the appointment expected in the next senior command rotation. The statement follows Katz's live television announcement of his intention to appoint a new officer to the role.
The Defense Minister's office confirmed earlier tonight (Monday) that Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir recommended Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa for the role of Central Command chief at the end of April, and requested that the minister interview him. Defense Minister Israel Katz held a personal interview with Bar Kalifa in June, was impressed, and has now formally accepted the recommendation. The statement adds specific timing to the appointment process, which Katz had announced live on television earlier this evening.
The Zioneer first reported the appointment minutes ago, at 00:28 Jerusalem, when Katz announced he had accepted the Chief of Staff's recommendation. In subsequent updates within the same bulletin, the Defense Minister's office disclosed the April recommendation and June interview timeline, and Katz cited his policy of promoting commanders with a proven record of aggressiveness and success in the War of Resilience. The timeline was further corroborated by the minister's office in a later statement. The development follows a public clash between Katz and the current Central Command chief, Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, which The Zioneer reported on Sunday at 23:22 Jerusalem, when Katz criticized Bluth over administrative orders against Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria and advanced Bar Kalifa's appointment.
The appointment replaces Bluth, whom Katz had criticized over what the minister described as fundamental disagreements regarding the governance of Judea and Samaria. Katz has emphasized his policy of absolute control over the military system and the need for commanders to align with his security policy, which he leads alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bar Kalifa, currently head of the IDF Personnel Directorate, is a veteran combat commander who previously led the 36th Division. The appointment is expected to take effect in the next round of senior command rotations.
The exact timing of the rotation remains unspecified. It is also unclear whether Bar Kalifa, as incoming Central Command chief, will determine the selection of the next commander of the Judea and Samaria Division, as a defense source had assessed. The future role of Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth has not been announced.
8 developments
- DevelopingDefense Minister Katz advances appointment of Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as Central Command chief
- DevelopingChannel 14 commentator presents timeline defending Katz in Bar Kalifa appointment dispute
- DevelopingNoam Amir accuses Chief of Staff Zamir of lying about Bar Kalifa appointment
- DevelopingSource assesses Dado Bar Kalifa will decide next Judea and Samaria Division commander
Source and signal
- Open-source intake