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Eisenkot. To stay in Northern Command
Photo: Yaron Brener
Galant. Who will serve as his deputy?
Photo: Gadi Kabalo

Northern Command chief Eisenkot to retire from IDF

Major-General Gadi Eisenkot decides to turn down offer to serve as deputy IDF chief under Yoav Galant, slated to remain in Northern Command for time being until retiring from army. Deputy IDF chief Benny Ganz also expected to withdraw from IDF

Northern Command Chief Major-General Gadi Eisenkot has turned down a proposal to be appointed deputy IDF chief of staff under Yoav Galant. He will stay on in the Northern Command for the time being and is later expected to retire from the IDF altogether. Current Deputy IDF Chief Benny Ganz is also slated to retire.

 

Last week, Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with Eisenkot and asked that he remain in the army. The Northern Command chief was being considered for the deputy IDF chief or Military Intelligence chief posts under Galant, with whom he fell out recently. The person responsible for leaking the Galant document to the media Colonel Gadi Siboni is one of Eisenkot's close friends, which has turned suspicions against him.

 

Prior to the exposure of the Galant affair, Eisenkot had suggested he would agree to serve as Galant's deputy should he be appointed IDF chief. It therefore appears that the forgery affair, which has taken a toll on the two's relationship, had an effect on Eisenkot's decision.

 

"Eisenkot is an officer with vast operational experience and would be very valuable serving in the higher ranks of the IDF general staff. His answer on the matter gives way to an uncomfortable feeling," a security element said.

 

Two more major-generals are being considered for the deputy IDF chief position: Central Command Chief Avi Mizrahi and Military Attaché in Washington Gadi Shamni. Mizrahi, 52, is seeking to end his stint at the Central Command and has no plans to serve as Galant's deputy, which leaves Shamni as the main candidate for the role.

 

Eisenkot, 50, began his army career in the Golani Brigade and has since served as the prime minister's military secretary, commander of the Judea and Samaria Division and Operations Directorate chief.

 

Yoav Galant awaits the government's official approval for his appointment as IDF chief of staff while Eisenkot will most likely wait until the Galat document investigation ends to officially announce his retirement.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.30.10, 09:33
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