A political commentary circulating Monday accused Defense Minister Israel Katz of running a calculated campaign against Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Blot, alleging that Katz's office orchestrated a deliberate leak to Channel 14 last week and is pressuring the general over his handling of administrative measures in Judea and Samaria. The commentary, from an unidentified source, claims Katz lacks the authority to unilaterally appoint generals and is prioritizing political interests over security.
The commentary is the latest salvo in an escalating public clash between the political echelon and the IDF leadership. It follows Sunday night's televised announcement by Katz in which he declared the dismissal of Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Blot and the appointment of Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as his successor—a move the IDF said was made without the Chief of Staff's knowledge. As The Zioneer reported, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir later froze all senior IDF appointments until after the elections, effectively neutralizing Katz's influence over military promotions.
The commentary specifically alleges that the Channel 14 report last week about friction between Katz and Blot was not coincidental but a deliberate leak from Katz's office, part of a broader campaign to intimidate the general. It further claims that Katz's announcement Sunday night was not a slip of the tongue but a calculated move. The commentary also asserts that the defense minister lacks the statutory authority to unilaterally appoint major generals, a power that rests with the Chief of Staff.
The allegations are unverified and come from an unidentified source.
3 developments
- DevelopingRight-wing commentators accuse Defense Minister Katz of failures, deception
- StrongIsraeli the source reacts to Katz-Blott controversy, seeks Drucker's criticism
- DevelopingDemocrats MK Rayten: Katz dismissed Central Command chief under political pressure
- DevelopingArmy Radio journalists: Katz treats IDF General Staff as a 'reality show' ahead of Likud primary
Source and signal
- Open-source intake