Israeli Army Leaders Promoted After Gaza War Failures: Controversy and Criticism Ensue

In a move described as aimed at changing the body and chief of staff of the Israeli army, after it failed to check the Hamas attack on October 7, five leaders of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip were rewarded with promotions, from brigadier general to major general, and from colonel to Dean, giving them essential keys in leadership for the future.

Although these changes are not final, and a wave of other posts will follow, they illustrate the military leadership’s determination to control their “kingdom” and thwart efforts by the far right. control or cause a coup. within its ranks.

Immediately after Defense Minister Yoav Galant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy suddenly announced these positions, and revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was told about them only at the last minute, a wave of criticism erupted in government, especially among the right.

Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich (Reuters)

Sensitive roles

The right claimed that Gallant and Halevy are not allowed to apply for sensitive positions for the military in the future, and they are accused of being responsible, along with others, for not stopping the attack on October 7 last year. The Ministers of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, and the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, sharply attacked Galant and Halevy, and discussed the “illegal” positions.

Ben Gvir, in a statement, said, “Gallant, one of the leaders of the call movement and one of the famous people responsible for the failure of October 7, does not have the mandate to approve the appointment of the military leadership and decide what position there is the future General Staff of the Israeli army.”

He continued: “The positions approved by Gallant with the Chief of Staff show that he is mocking the people. This has nothing to do with the identity of the appointed officers, some of whom may be very worthy, but with Gallant’s own decision to continue with the same old way of working. “As if the biggest failure in the history of the state did not happen under his responsibility as Minister of Security.” He said: “As a result of this, I am asking Prime Minister Netanyahu to dismiss Gallant, as he is not fit to continue working as Minister of Security.”

Israeli army vehicles in Tulkarm (Reuters)

Military neglect

In turn, Smotrich said, “The Chief of Staff who personally signed the negligence of the army will not accept the appointment of the generals who will lead the correction process within the army after the negligence on October 7 -last year.” These positions are not valid. He also proposed the dismissal of Herzi Halevy.

For his part, opposition leader Yair Lapid said in a statement, “The role and responsibility of the Chief of Staff and the Minister of Security is to appoint generals in the Israeli army. The illegal attempt by Ben Gvir and Smotrich, two climbers who did not serve in the army, will not succeed in controlling the Israeli army.”

He continued, “If there is anyone who needs to resign, it is this corrupt and destructive government, under whose rule we have been the most terrible murderer in the history of the country, and since then it is has been fighting a dangerous political battle. I wish the new generals success in their missions. Every Jewish mother will know that her children are not in the hands of reckless extremists, but in the hands of experienced officers who will protect the people of Israel.”

Blinken le Gallant at the Kerem Shalom border crossing (Reuters)

Stable workers

As for Gallant, he said that these positions are necessary because Israel has not ended the war yet, and there is a risk that it will expand to the north, so we need a stable general staff that does not the temporary generals. According to the official statement of the Israeli army, the new positions included: a new head of the Military Intelligence Unit “Aman”, replacing Aharon Haliwa, he is Shlomi Binder, who was the head of the Operations Department during the “Al-Qassam Brigades” attack. , and some hold him responsible for the military’s poor operational response to the attack,” and the failure to dislodge the “Al-Qassam Brigades” fighters who participated in the attack.

The new appointments also included the appointment of Avi Ballut as head of the Central Command, succeeding Yehuda Fuchs, who had announced his intention to retire next August. Ballut previously served as a military adviser to Prime Minister Netanyahu, and was the commander of the army’s West Bank Division.

Oak is a settler in the West Bank and wears a kippah (religious Jewish hood). His appointment comes as part of Galant and Halevy’s desire to keep up with the right.

Israeli soldiers inspect military equipment at a site on the southern border with the Gaza Strip near Rafah (AP)

Additional roles

Dan Goldfus was also appointed commander of the Northern Corps and the ground movement formations in the ground arm, and led the ground attack on the Gaza Strip. His position in the north became responsible for preparing for an attack in Lebanon, during any future war against Hezbollah, which is unlikely to break out if the peace talks with Hamas.

Bar Khalif was appointed head of the Directorate of Personnel in the Israeli army, and Aviad Dagan was appointed head of the Computer and Information Technology Department, and both spent 7 months in Gaza. The military statement said other appointments to the military leadership “will be made gradually in the coming months,” amid expectations of a wave of resignations at the military base as a result of investigations into the Oct. 7 attack.

Although the extreme right opposes these positions, they point out the extent to which his policy also affects the army. In addition to Ballut, 3 religious generals are coming along with the Chief of Staff, but the right wanted more. Because he sees it as an opportunity for him to change the course of the army in his favor.