The Yesha Council, the umbrella organization of Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, issued a statement Monday morning expressing support for Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Blot amid the ongoing controversy over his potential replacement. The council also announced that local council heads will meet with Defense Minister Israel Katz this afternoon.
The Yesha Council, the umbrella organization representing Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, issued a statement Monday morning expressing support for Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Blot. The council praised Blot's "offensive military leadership" and his close cooperation with the settlement movement, calling him a dedicated commander who has achieved significant successes against terrorism.
The statement comes amid a widening controversy over Defense Minister Israel Katz's decision to replace Blot with Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa. As The Zioneer reported, Katz's announcement sparked a rare public dispute with the IDF, which said the move was not coordinated with the Chief of Staff. The Yesha Council's support follows similar expressions from Gush Etzion council head Yaron Rosenthal, former IDF general Ofer Winter, and the deputy head of the Samaria Regional Council, who called Blot "the best OC Central Command in 20 years." The Zioneer also clarified that Katz did not dismiss Blot on air, but rather stated that an agreement exists for Bar Kalifa to assume the role in due time.
The Yesha Council also announced that local council heads from Judea and Samaria will meet with Defense Minister Katz later this afternoon. The meeting is expected to address the leadership transition and the council's concerns.
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