Right: Minister of Defense, Mr. Ehud Barak, Maj. Gen. Dan Harel, Maj. Gen. Benny Ganz and Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi. Photo: IDF Spokesperson

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On Thursday (Oct. 1), Maj. Gen. Benny Ganz was appointed as the IDF Deputy Chief of the General Staff, replacing Maj. Gen. Dan Harel who has held the position for the past two years and is now retiring from his military career after 35 years of service. The ceremony took place in the offices of the Chief of the General Staff and was attended by the Minister of Defense, Mr. Ehud Barak, the Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, and the families of Maj. Gen. Harel and Maj. Gen. Ganz.

During the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Dan Harel commented on the position he held for the past two years: "I've had a fascinating two years in a multi-faceted position of great influence on the IDF, both in the long and short terms. We were able to produce a trend of moving forward and aiming for operational achievements. We are now counting three years of putting the lessons learnt from the Second Lebanon War into effect, and I see the extensive changes in all aspects: reserve and regular forces, training, exercises, instruction, and more. These changes created cultural and organizational modifications within the IDF, a change of atmosphere and a sense of operational capability; these changes by now are widespread throughout the IDF. Today, we are a more professional, strong and stable army." At the end of his speech, Maj. Gen. Dan Harel expressed his confidence in his successor: "I am leaving with a great feeling of satisfaction and am certain that you will be able to lead the state of Israel through rough waters to a safe coast."

The newly appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Maj. Gen. Benny Ganz, thanked the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff for their faith in him, and said: "I have inherited a system that is well-organized, clearly directed and that puts an emphasis on small details. We will continue to take care of important issues professionally and from the bottom-up, we will do what is expected of us, while maintaining good cooperation and support."

The Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, thanked the exiting deputy, Maj. Gen. Harel and said: "Dan stood behind many important processes in the IDF, he is determined, opinionated and uncompromising and took on his position in an exceptional manner, exceeding all expectations."

Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi congratulated his newly appointed deputy and said "In light of the various positions you  have filled in the past, including those in the IDF Headquarters, I'm certain that you will take this position forward… We face many challenges from outside and from within and there is no doubt that you will receive the utmost cooperation from all of us, and that together we will continue to strengthen the military, by manning, training, and equipping it, as well as by operating it."

The Minister of Defense, Mr. Ehud Barak, wished Maj. Gen. Ganz success, and thanked the exiting Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Maj. Gen. Dan Harel, who in the past served as his Military Secretary, saying that "Dan has brought far-reaching results and left his mark deep in the IDF. As a talented, methodical, and thorough officer, he taught us lessons in work ethic and good spirits."

Maj. Gen. Dan Harel – Curriculum Vitae

Maj. Gen. Dan Harel was born in Israel in 1955. In 1974 he was recruited to the IDF and joined the Israel Air Force. In 1976 he moved to the Artillery Corps where he filled various positions, including senior guidance positions at the Field Artillery School in Shivta.

In 1990 he was appointed as the commander of a reserves artillery battalion and the commander of the Lebanese Border Artillery Formation, before being appointed as commander of a regular artillery battalion in the IDF Northern Command.

In 1993 he was appointed as head of the operations Department in the General Staff.
In 1995 he was appointed as Chief Artillery Officer of the IDF.
In 1998 he was appointed as Military Secretary to the Minister of Defense.
In 2000 he was appointed as a commander of an armored division in the IDF Northern Command.
In 2001 he was appointed as Head of the IDF Operations Branch.
In 2003 he was appointed as GOC of the IDF Southern Command.
In 2006 he was appointed as the IDF Military Attaché in the United States.
In 2007 he was appointed as Deputy Chief of the General Staff.
In 2009 he concluded his job as Deputy Chief of Staff and retired from the IDF.

Maj. Gen. Harel holds a Bachelors degree with honors in Political Science from the Haifa University and is a graduate of the Progressive Artillery officer's course in the US Army and a graduate of the IDF Brigade Commanders Course.

Major Harel is married and is a father of one son and two daughters.

Maj. Gen. Benny Ganz – Curriculum Vitae
 
Maj. Gen Benny Ganz, born 1959, recruited to the IDF in 1977 and joined the Paratroopers Brigade.
In 1979, he graduated from the IDF Officers School and was positioned as company commander and later platoon commander in the Paratrooper Brigade.

In 1987 he was appointed as commander of the Ef'a Battalion in the Paratroppers Brigade.
In 1989 he was appointed as commander of the Shaldag Unit in the Israeli Air Force.
In 1992 he was appointed as commander of the Paratroopers Brigade Reserve Unit.
In 1994 he was appointed as commander of the Judea Brigade in the Judea and Samaria Division.
In 1995 he was appointed as commander of the Paratroopers Brigade.
In 1997 he left for an academic break in the United States.
In 1998, he was appointed as commander of a reserve division in the Northern Command.
In 1999 he was appointed as commander of the Liaison Unit with Lebanon.
In 2000 he was appointed as commander of the Judea and Samaria Division.
In 2002 he was appointed as GOC of the IDF Northern Command.
In 2005 he was appointed as commander of the IDF Ground Forces Command.
In 2007 he was appointed as the IDF Military Attaché in the United States.

Maj. Gen. Ganz is a graduate of the Command and Staff College and the National Security College, holds a Bachelors degree in History from the Tel Aviv University, a Masters degree in Political Science from the Haifa University and another Masters degree in Management of National Resources from the NDU university in the United States.

Maj. Gen. Ganz is married and is a father of four.