TEL AVIV (Agencies): Israel is currently embroiled in a controversy following the recent appointments of generals to the General Staff, some of whom were involved in the failures of October 7. High-profile critics, including Ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, argue that Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, who they believe bears significant responsibility for the failure, should not have the authority to make such appointments. Ben-Gvir has called for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dismiss Halevi, while others have suggested that all ministers in office at the time of the attack should also step down.
The appointments have also been criticized by families of fallen soldiers, who have threatened legal action. The new appointments, agreed upon by Halevi and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and approved by Netanyahu, include the promotion of Brigadier General Shlomi Binder to head the Military Intelligence Division (AMAN), succeeding General Aharon Haliva, and Brigadier General Avi Bluth as commanding officer of the Central Command, replacing General Yehuda Fuchs.
Other appointments include Brigadier General Dan Goldfus as commander of the Northern Corps and head of the Manoeuvre Array in the Ground Forces, Brigadier General David Bar-Khalifa as head of the Personnel Division, and Brigadier General Aviad Dagan leading the communications division. All officers will be promoted to the rank of major general, with the appointments taking effect gradually over the coming months.
Binder’s appointment and promotion have drawn particular criticism due to his role as head of the Operations Division during the slow response of the army in the initial hours of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7. The father of a soldier killed in the “Gaza envelope” has criticized Halevi and Gallant’s decision and threatened to take the matter to the Supreme Court, along with other bereaved families.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir swiftly criticized Security Minister Gallant over the appointments, stating on social media that Gallant, as one of the leaders responsible for the failure of October Seventh, does not have the mandate to approve the appointments of generals and shape the future general staff of the IDF. He called on the Prime Minister to remove Gallant from his position, stating he is unfit to continue serving as Defence Minister.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed these sentiments, posting on social media that the appointments of IDF generals who will lead the correction of the army after the default cannot be made by the Chief of Staff responsible for the military failure. He argued that this is not legitimate, not the way to fix things, and not the way to restore trust.