Avigdor Lieberman
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Lieberman appoints new IDF deputy chief of staff, Air Force commander
Aviv Kochavi is to be the military's next number two, and Amikam Norkin will head the IAF, as the chief of staff's first picks are approved.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Thursday approved a series of appointments of high-ranking IDF commanders to new positions, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement. The highlights are the appointment of Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi as the new deputy chief of staff of the Israeli military, and the appointment of Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin as Israel’s new Air Force commander.
The appointments, all recommended by Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, will take effect during 2017. After interviewing all the candidates, Lieberman accepted Eisenkot’s recommendation that Kochavi be named the army’s second-in-command.
Aviv Kochavi (L) Amikam Norkin (Photos: Dana Koppel, Alex Kolomoisky)
Kochavi, who currently serves as head of the IDF Northern Command, will replace Maj. Gen. Yair Golan who has been deputy chief of staff during the last two years.
The new Air Force commander will be Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, who until 2015 held the position of deputy Air Force commander. He will replace Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, who was the Air Force commander for the last four and a half years.
Maj. Gen. Yoel Starik, who currently serves as head of the Home Front Command, will replace Kochavi as head of the Northern Command. Starik will be replaced by Brig. Gen. Tamir Yadai, who will be promoted to major general.
Norkin, the current commander of the military’s Planning Directorate, will be replaced in that position by Brig. Gen. Amir Abulafia who currently commands the IDF’s 162nd Armor Division (also known as the Steel Formation).
In addition, Brig. Gen. Moni Katz will become the new commander of the army’s Depth Corps, which coordinates long range operations deep in enemy territory. Katz will be promoted to major general and replace the previous commander, Maj. Gen. Tal Russo.
Reprinted with permission from TPS .
