IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz defended on Sunday the latest round of General Staff appointments ,whose nature sparked claimes suggesting he has little confidence in active-duty officers. "The appointments are legitimate," he said. "All the surrounding noise is meant to generate undue gossip."
Speaking at a ceremony in the Glilot Base, he said: "This morning's headlines are absolutely baseless. Military appointments are based on transparent strategic considerations. We choose only the most suitable people."
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Gantz was responding to a Yedioth Ahronoth report suggesting that the latest round of nominations had ruffled more than a few feather in the General Staff, sparking harsh criticism against Gantz and Defense Minister Ehud Barak .
Both have been accused of opting to reinstate reserve officers at the expense of senior active-duty officers.
- "Barak is running the army and has now appointed Maj.-Gen Shai Avital 10 years after he left the IDF to pursue a political career," senior IDF officials charged.
Last Thursday, Avital was appointed commander of the Depth Corps. He is the fourth major-general to return to the IDF after retiring from his military career.