Southern Command Chief Major-General Yoav Galant is expected to announce his decision regarding his future in Israel Defense Forces in the coming days, following the decision to appoint Manjor-General
Benny Gantz as the new deputy IDF chief of staff. The decision bears much influence over future appointments in the General Staff.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak
is likely to meet Sunday with the three major-generals who were up for the role of deputy chief of Staff: Gantz, Galant and Northern Command Chief Gadi Eisenkot. Barak will attempt to persuade Galant to continue on in the army.
| Southern Command |
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| IDF officers urge Galant not to retire / Hanan Greenberg |
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After Barak names Major-General Gantz as next deputy chief of staff, officers who served under Sothern Command chief during Gaza op say real race will be for IDF chief position |
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Over the weekend, following the decision to appoint Benny Gantz, IDF officers in various ranks continued to encourage Galant to stay in the army.
After the drama surrounding the appointment, IDF seniors are attempting to quiet things down. IDF officers believe this will be achieved if Galant will announce he will not retire, thus lowering tensions, at least until the race for the next chief of staff position commences in 2011.
Officers who spoke with Galant over the weekend refused to divulge the contents of their conversations, but mentioned that it appeared he would make a decision shortly. They stated he wished to weigh fully the various factors surrounding the appointment process and his status in the army, and only then making his decision.
Defense Minister Barak has a lot riding on his shoulders, in light of his support for Galant for the position of deputy chief of staff. He is expected to make it clear in their meeting that Galant was and still is a candidate for the position of IDF chief of staff and would be well advised to remain in the army.
Cautious estimates predict Galant will agree to proceed in the army, possibly in his current position as Southern Command chief, for which he is greatly appreciated.
However it is too early to determine the shape of the current situation, in light of the dramatic nature of the recent appointment and Galant's tense relationship with IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi.
IDF officers joked this weekend on the issue of who received more telephone calls, appointed Deputy Gantz, who was congratulated by many, or Galant, who many tried to console by asserting he was one of the candidates for next chief of staff.
Should Galant remain in the army, the next round of appointments will be smaller and the discussions on it will only commence after Galant's future in the army is announced.
_a.jpg "Maj.Gen Benny Gantz Photo: Yaron Brener")
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