Dado Bar Kalifa
Major General Dado Bar Kalifa is a senior IDF officer currently serving as the Head of the Personnel Directorate (Aka), who recently became the focus of a high-profile dispute regarding his potential appointment as Commander of Central Command.
Major General Dado Bar Kalifa is a prominent combat commander in the Israel Defense Forces, currently serving as the Head of the Personnel Directorate (Aka). In this capacity, he manages the military's human resources, including recruitment and the welfare of regular and reserve forces. His career is defined by significant field leadership, most notably as the commander of the 36th Division (Ga'ash), a premier armored offensive formation. His transition from tactical command to the General Staff reflects the IDF's strategic integration of combat experience into administrative leadership.
In August 2026, Bar Kalifa became the central figure in a significant political-military friction point. Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on live television that Bar Kalifa would replace Maj. Gen. Avi Blot as the Commander of Central Command. This announcement triggered an immediate and rare public rebuke from the IDF General Staff, which claimed the move was not coordinated with Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. The dispute centers on the procedural integrity of senior appointments; while the Defense Minister's office asserts that Zamir himself recommended Bar Kalifa for the post as early as April 2026, military sources have expressed concern over replacing key commanders during a sensitive security period.
Beyond internal administrative and command roles, Bar Kalifa has represented Israel's strategic interests abroad. In July 2026, he led a secret two-week IDF delegation to Morocco, a mission aimed at deepening security cooperation following the Abraham Accords. As the IDF navigates complex manpower challenges and leadership transitions, Bar Kalifa remains a pivotal figure whose future role—whether in the Personnel Directorate or at the helm of Central Command—will significantly impact the security of Judea and Samaria and the broader national resilience of the State of Israel.