Popular IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenzi’s term is not being extended, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak picked Yoav Galant as the new top military officer, although that plan was scrapped yesterday after the Israeli attorney general found that Galant used his stature to grab land. In his stead, General Yair Naveh was selected on an interim basis, although his appointment is being attacked by far left groups because they contend that he acted illegally by ordering targeted assassinations in the West Bank.
The IDF chief of staff’s role is critical, especially now that Israel’s neighbors are demonstrating, the Muslim Brotherhood could takeover Egypt, Hezbollah could gain more power in Lebanon, and Hamas shows little signs of weakening its grip on the Gaza Strip.
How this saga plays out will be closely watched, as the face of the IDF will determine how to proceed on upcoming military campaigns and the strategy, such as using predominantly air strikes or ground units.
