IOF reshuffle wartime unit as commander moves to lead Shin Bet
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Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir orders a major IOF reshuffle, placing the General Staff Corps under Ground Forces.
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Israeli occupation forces paratroopers clear ammunition from their weapons in al-Quds' Old City, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP)
IOF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has decided to subordinate the General Staff Corps, a top-level unit activated only during wartime, under the command of the Ground Forces, according to an official statement.
The corps is currently commanded by Maj. Gen. David Zini, who is being dismissed from the IOF after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed him to lead the Shin Bet without consulting Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.
This decision means that following Zini's departure from the IOF, the position of head of the General Staff Corps will no longer be filled by a major general, but rather is expected to be assigned to a brigadier general, as the unit will now operate under the command of the Ground Forces, which is led by Maj. Gen. Nadav Lotan.
The General Staff Corps is intended to oversee tactical battlefield operations during wartime, allowing regional commands to focus on strategic planning. However, the General Staff Corps sees little operational use, with its current commander, Zini, also serving as head of the IOF's Training Command.
Zini nomination 'invalid, unlawful': Israeli AG
Meanwhile, the row over Zini's nomination to lead the Shin Bet continues. Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his involvement in selecting David Zini as the next head of the Shin Bet raises concerns about a conflict of interest, casting doubt on whether the appointment can proceed as planned.
In a letter to the prime minister, the attorney general stated that Netanyahu's decision to appoint Zini disregarded the determinations outlined in the High Court ruling, as well as legal directives, rendering the selection "invalid" and "in violation of the law."
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara informed Netanyahu that due to his conflict of interest, he cannot participate in any way in the process of selecting a new Shin Bet chief, and that to ensure the swift replacement of outgoing director Ronen Bar, he must transfer the authority to nominate a candidate to another government minister.
A legal memo from Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon to Baharav-Miara stated that to prevent any perception of the appointed minister merely serving as the prime minister’s proxy, the selection process must adhere to strict guidelines, ensuring it remains free from improper influence and is completed in time for a smooth transition from outgoing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.
Netanyahu announced Zini’s appointment on Thursday, bypassing the Attorney General's opposition and reportedly selecting him after a brief, informal conversation during a visit to the Tzeelim base. The move came just one day after the High Court ruled Netanyahu could not dismiss current Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, who is set to resign next month.
Past comments by Zini stir controversy
Major General David Zini, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Shin Bet chief appointee, has drawn fierce backlash from families of Gaza-held captives following reports that he expressed resistance to both a ceasefire in Gaza and a potential deal to secure the hostages' release.
Channel 12 reports Maj. Gen. David Zini told a closed Israeli military meeting, "I'm against hostage deals, this is an eternal war," though the statement's timing and exact wording remain unconfirmed, with the remarks gaining new relevance as Zini prepares to oversee hostage negotiations.
Another report by Channel 12 cited the new Shin Bet Chief sounding his opposition to prioritizing the return of the Israeli captives, telling former IOF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, “You prioritize the return of the hostages over destroying Hamas.”
According to sources cited in the report, Zini has consistently opposed negotiating deals for the captives' return, with Channel 12 revealing that he explicitly told military colleagues, "I'm against hostage deals, this is an eternal war," a stance that has now drawn scrutiny as he prepares to assume a key security role.
