'Disastrous failure' leads to resignation: Netanyahu ally appointed as new Israeli Chief of General Staff

Israeli Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi has resigned from his post, taking responsibility for the 'disastrous failure' that occurred on October 7. He has been replaced by Ministry of Defense Director-General Eyal Zamir. The Israeli press has suggested that the newly appointed official is 'close' to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A statement from the Prime Minister's Office announced that Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yisrael Katz have decided to appoint Zamir to the seat vacated by Halevi, effective March 6.

Retired Major General Zamir, who served as Deputy Chief of General Staff until 2021, has held the position of Director-General of the Ministry of Defense since 2023.

Resigned former Israeli Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi

HE HAD WORKED WITH NETANYAHU

Zamir will officially begin his duties as the country's 24th Chief of General Staff following a committee evaluation and a cabinet vote. It has also been noted that the new Chief of General Staff previously served alongside Netanyahu.

Speaking to the newspaper Haaretz, an unnamed Israeli source claimed that Zamir, who served as Netanyahu's military secretary between 2012 and 2015, is 'very close to the prime minister.'

The source in question stated, 'Bibi (Netanyahu) trusted Eyal completely and he never hesitated to express opinions that did not align with his own.'

Netanyahu had held Halevi responsible for the Israeli army's failure in the war

WHY DID HALEVI RESIGN?

In his resignation letter submitted to Netanyahu and Katz, Halevi stated that during the attack launched from Gaza by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, on October 7, 2023, 'the Israeli army under his command failed in its duty to protect citizens, and he has felt the responsibility for this disastrous failure every day since the first day.'

It had emerged that Chief of General Staff Halevi experienced disagreements with Prime Minister Netanyahu and the government over Israel's attacks on Gaza and the region following October 7, 2023.

Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners in Israel had made statements directly targeting Halevi. Halevi announced that he would resign after completing his term following the failure of the attacks in Lebanon.

News Source: AA