Military defies defence minister’s shock call to replace chief of staff

Israel’s defence establishment has rejected Defence Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s surprise announcement that he intends to appoint a replacement for Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, with the Israel Defence Forces issuing an unusually blunt statement that they have “no intention” of implementing the change. The move has triggered a major political crisis, with senior figures from across the spectrum condemning the defence minister’s decision, which was announced just before internal party primaries. Military sources emphasised that only the government as a collective body has the authority to make such appointments, and that Smotrich’s unilateral action undermines the chain of command. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s statement came without prior coordination with other cabinet members or military leadership, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the government and the defence establishment. “The government is not fit to manage security matters,” said one senior military official, in a rare public criticism. Naftali Bennett, a former prime minister, launched a scathing attack on Smotrich, declaring that the defence minister’s true aim is to “ensure absolute chaos” within the armed forces and destabilise military operations at a critical time. However, the move found unexpected support from some coalition members, who used the opportunity to criticise the current Chief of Staff, claiming that operations under his command have been inadequate and that settlers have faced insufficient protection.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.