Yair Naveh to be appointed deputy IDF chief

Following meeting with Barak, it is decided that retired general will return to army, serve as Galant's deputy after he takes over for Ashkenazi

Hanan Greenberg|Published: 10.04.10 , 20:47

Maj. Gen. (ret) Yair Naveh will be the next IDF deputy chief of staff, serving under newly appointed army chief Yoav Galant when he takes over the position in February 2011, Ynet reported on Monday.

The Defense Ministry is expected to make an official announcement on the matter in the coming days.

Naveh, who retired from the army three years ago, discussed his return with Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday. Naveh, whose last position was head of the Central Command, is expected to begin an overlap period with the current deputy, Maj.-Gen. Benny Gantz, in the coming weeks.

The decision was reached after generals Gadi Eizenkot and Avi Mizrahi both recently turned down the position.

Mizrahi is expected to retire from the army after completing his term as Central Command chief, but Eizenkot may be appointed deputy army chief after Naveh and join the race to become Israel's 21st chief of staff.