Former IDF general Ofer Winter has reportedly expressed support for Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, as controversy continues over Defense Minister Israel Katz's decision to replace Bluth as head of the Central Command. The statement, reported Monday night, aligns Winter with those opposing the move, which The Zioneer previously reported drew criticism from figures such as Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot.
The reported support from Ofer Winter, a former commander of the Gaza Division and a prominent figure in the religious-Zionist military establishment, adds a notable voice to the controversy surrounding Defense Minister Israel Katz's decision to replace Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth as head of the Central Command. The decision, announced earlier, was linked by Katz directly to disagreements over administrative enforcement against Jewish residents in Judea and Samaria. As The Zioneer reported on August 3, the move was framed as an assertion of civilian oversight and a shift toward reducing friction between the military and the communities it protects. However, it drew sharp criticism from opposition figures Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot, who viewed it as political interference. Winter's backing of Bluth suggests that within the military establishment, there are voices supporting the outgoing commander. The exact timing and context of Winter's statement have not been independently confirmed, and the report remains a single-source account.
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