Israel Chooses Next IDF Chief of Staff

JERUSALEM, Israel – Maj.- Gen. Gadi Eizenkot is poised to become the next Israel Defense Forces chief of general staff, the Prime Minister’s Office announced over the weekend.

Netanyahu told cabinet ministers Sunday morning Eisenkot is the right officer to follow outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, saying he’ll “shoulder a very great security mission as the IDF operates in various sectors with growing challenges.”

Eizenkot’s deputy chief of staff will be Maj.-Gen. Yair Golan

“He will be assisted by the next IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Yair Golan, who is also among our most experienced and talented officers,” Netanyahu said, he said as he thanked outgoing deputy chief Maj.-Gen. Yair Naveh for “his great contribution to the security of Israel.”

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon concurred that Eizenkot is the “right man” to lead the IDF at this time.

“Maj.-Gen. Eizenkot has extensive combat and command experience and he has noted significant milestones during his military service both in the field and in key staff positions,” Ya’alon said in a weekend statement.

Ya’alon said the IDF would be facing “complex defense and security challenges in the coming years, across all sectors.”

“Maj.-Gen. Eizenkot is the best officer to succeed Lt.-Gen. Gantz and lead the IDF through these challenges,” he said.

Both Eizenkot and his deputy, Golan, hold graduate degrees and both attended the United States Army War College.