Eizenkot will replace Maj. Gen. Yair Naveh • Former GOC
Northern Command and military secretary to the prime minister is widely expected
to vie for the post of IDF chief of general staff in 2014 • Date not yet
determined for Eizenkot to step into his new post.
Israel Hayom Staff
Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday approved the
recommendation of Israel Defense Forces Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny
Gantz and appointed Maj. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot to the post of deputy IDF chief of
staff.
Eizenkot, who will replace Maj. Gen. Yair Naveh, prevailed
over other candidates for the position, including former GOC Central Command
Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrahi.
It has not yet been determined when Eizenkot will assume
his new position.
In the past, Eizenkot served as the military secretary to
the prime minister, commander of the 366th (Reserve) Armored Division (also
known as "Pillar of Fire"), commander of the Judea and Samaria Division, the
head of the Operations Directorate and GOC Northern Command.
As the commander of the Golani Brigade, Eizenkot changed
behavioral norms within the veteran units, battling insubordination and
streamlining relations between young and veteran soldiers.
In 1997-1998, the brigade he commanded was involved in
combat against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
In 1999, Eizenkot was appointed to serve as the military
secretary to then Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. It was in this
capacity that he took part in peace talks with Syria. He later served as
military secretary to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
After Maj. Gen. Udi Adam resigned in Oct. 2006 amid
criticism over his conduct in the Second Lebanon War, Eizenkot replaced him as
GOC Northern Command, a post he held until 2011. In 2014, Eizenkot is widely
expected to vie for the position of IDF chief of general staff.
Vice Prime Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon, a former IDF
chief of general staff himself, told Army Radio on Monday, "I think Eizenkot is
a praiseworthy and excellent choice."
"I know Gadi well," Ya'alon added. "He is an admirable man, an
admirable officer, and I definitely welcome the appointment."
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