Maj. Gen. Benjamin Gantz, the new Deputy Chief of the General Staff. Photo: IDF Spokesperson

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The Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, decided on Friday (July 10) to appoint Maj. Gen. Benjamin "Benny" Gantz as the new Deputy Chief of the General Staff. Maj. Gen. Gantz, who is currently Israel's Military Attache in the United States, and has served in the past as the commander of the GOC Army Headquarters/ He will enter his new position in several months, replacing Maj. Gen. Dan Harel. The Minister of Defense, Mr. Ehud Barak, confirmed the decision of the Chief of the General Staff, and Maj. Gen. Gantz's replacement as the Defense Attaché to the USA and Canada will be determined in the near future.

The Minister of Defense also confirmed the decision of the Chief of the General Staff to keep the Chief of Defense Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, in his position, instead of replacing him during the current rotation.

The Chief of the General Staff also decided that Maj. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot will continue in his current role as GOC of the Northern Command. The GOC of the Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant, has been offered the option of becoming the new Chief of the GOC Army Headquarters, or alternatively to remain in his current position.

During the past week, an effort has been made to execute a rotation of appointments in the IDF, while allowing the three Major Generals – Eisenkot, Galant and Gantz – to stay in the military so as to be candidates for the next Chief of Staff in due time.

In the meantime, the Chief of the General Staff decided to appoint Brig. Gen. Kobi Barak as the new Head of the Operations Brigade, and additional appointments will be made in the near future.