Associates: Barak hurting chief of staff
Gabi Ashkenazi's associates frustrated over defense minister's decision to start interviewing candidates to replace chief of staff six months before he ends his term. Defense Ministry elements say move important before manning of next general staff begins
Elements close to the chief of staff believe the round of interviews is harmful for Ashkenazi and is not necessary at the current stage as it could be conducted at a later date. They also assert that Barak was motivated by personal rather than professional considerations in determining Ashkenazi's successor so early.
Defense Ministry sources, however, claim that plans for the IDF's future could not have been avoided from the moment it was decided that Ashkenazi will retire after completing a four-year term.
The same sources noted that selecting a new chief of staff was an important step before one begins to man the next general staff. Barak's statement on Wednesday regarding the new round of interviews noted it was coordinated with the chief of staff's office, and not Ashkenazi himself – another example of the "bad blood" between the offices.
Central Command Chief Major-General Avi Mizrahi will be the first candidate to meet with Barak on Thursday as part of the round of interviews and is thought to have the lowest chances of being appointed.
The other four candidates are Deputy Chief of Staff Major-General Benny Ganz, Southern Command Chief Major-General Yoav Galant, Northern Command Major-General Chief Gadi Eisenkot and IDF Military Attache in Washington Major-General Gadi Shamni.
The race will focus on Ganz, Galant and Eisenkot with Galant appearing to be the front-runner according to recent estimates.
Four months ago Barak announced that Ashkenazi's term as chief of staff will not be extended for a fifth year and that he will be retiring as planned in the beginning of 2011.
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