Aviv Kochavi was officially replaced by Herzi Halevi as the Israeli army Chief of Staff on Monday, ending his four-year tenure, where he oversaw several significant military achievements.
Kochavi was sworn in as the 22nd Chief of Staff in January 2019, replacing Gadi Eisenkot.
During his time as the military's leader, he oversaw the killing of a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander by an airstrike and the military taking over Israel's Covid testing during the worldwide pandemic.
Then, in May 2021, Operation "Guardian of the Walls" shook the country - the 11-day crisis where over 4,360 rockets were fired at Israel.
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Iron Dome missile defense system intercepts Gaza rocket fire in May 2021
(Photo: AFP)
Other than the 2021 operation, there were no major escalations or flare-ups along Israel's borders during Kochavi's tenure - a considerable achievement for the outgoing military head. Moreover, a substantial concern for the Jewish state - the northern border with Lebanon - remained quiet during Kochavi's oversight.
Regarding Israel's northeastern border with Syria, the Jewish state acted almost entirely without interference - leading to military successes. Last month, Kochavi admitted that Israel was behind a November strike against a convoy transporting Iranian weapons on the Syrian-Iraqi border.
Kochavi also oversaw the beginning of the counterterrorism intervention in the West Bank that has seen over 2,000 Palestinians arrested following a series of terrorist attacks.
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Militants from Nablus's Lion's Den group participate in funeral of their members
(Photo: AFP)
The Lions' Den - a secular organization consisting of younger Palestinian men - was practically eradicated by IDF forces.