Defence Minister sacks Central Command chief on live TV — but IDF chief contradicts him minutes later

Israel’s Defence Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced live on Channel 14 on Sunday that he was removing Maj Gen Avi Blot, commander of the Central Command, from his post. The announcement came during a live broadcast of a programme called The Patriots. However, the IDF Spokesperson’s Office swiftly rejected the minister’s declaration, stating that Ben-Gvir’s announcement had not been coordinated with the military’s Chief of Staff. The office confirmed that IDF Chief Eyal Zamir has no intention of replacing Maj Gen Blot. The public contradiction between Israel’s civilian defence leadership and its military command represents a significant breach of protocol and raises questions about decision-making processes within the Israeli security establishment. Ben-Gvir, who heads the far-right National Security Ministry, has previously clashed with military leadership over operational decisions and broader security policy.

Source: Walla News — Original article in Hebrew.