Deputy IDF chief race on its way
Major Generals Aviv Kochavi and Sami Turgeman are the leading candidates to replace Maj. Gen. Yair Golan as IDF deputy chief of staff; will the charismatic paratrooper or the respected Armored Corps man take the spot as Lt. Gen. Eisenkot's second-in-command?
This will be the first major appointment approved by Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman since his entering office in late May. It will also be the first time Eisenkot will get to pick his deputy, with Golan being forced upon him by former defense minister Moshe Ya'alon immediately after Eisenkot was appointed to lead the Israeli military.
There are several official candidates for the position, but only two are considered serious: GOC Northern Command Aviv Kochavi and former GOC Southern Command Sami Turgeman.
It is well known that Eisenkot preferred to appoint Turgenam as his deputy back when he first came into office, and that Kochavi has been seen as having a bright IDF future for a long time – starting when he was a colonel, and commander of the Paratroopers' Brigade. A major factor in the decision could be the upcoming state comptroller's report on Operation Protective Edge, which may affect the candidates – positively or negatively.
Sources who read the first draft of the report describe it as harshly critical towards former IDF chief Benny Gantz, then-IDF Military Intelligence Directorate head Maj. Gen. Kochavi, and an IDF brigadier general who has since retired. Kochavi has been spending time explaining his actions during the operation, attempting to keep alive his prospects for becoming chief of staff one day.
Kochavi is considered a brilliant, well-liked officer, and he is sure to fight for his reputation here. It wouldn't surprise many who know him if Kochavi decides to publically respond to the comptroller's report – if it turns out to be negative. As a particularly articulate person with considerable oratorical skills, he could make a significant impact with such a move. If the report does eliminate his chances for the deputy position, Eisenkot and Lieberman may still ask him to remain in his current position as GOC Northern Command, in which he has served for two years, and which would allow him to contend for the Chief of Staff position when Eisenkot's term ends.
Turgeman started his IDF career in the Armored Corps and is expected to be mentioned slightly positively in the comptroller's report, since he did important work in preparing the Southern Command for the campaign the began in summer 2014 and warned of the Hamas attack tunnel threat in advance.
