Tensions nearing breaking point; major upheaval in IOF: Israeli media

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
11 Jan 2025 11:37
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The Israeli website Walla says the ongoing investigations into the October 7 events have become a central issue and have led to significant upheaval within the Israeli military's General Staff.

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From left, Israeli Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi, interim Police Chief Avshalom Peled, and the Director of the Security Agency Ronen Bar attend a ceremony marking the anniversary of the October 7 events last year, at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in occupied al-Quds, Palestine, on Sunday Oct. 27, 2024 (AP)

Deputy Chief of Staff of the Israeli occupation military, Amir Baram, has requested to step down from his position by the end of next month in a move that is expected to compel Security Minister Israel Katz to find a replacement for Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Israeli media reported on Saturday.

Tensions between Katz and Halevi are nearing a breaking point, the Israeli website Walla pointed out, adding that the ongoing investigations into the October 7 events have become a central issue and lead to significant upheaval within the General Staff.

The website stated that starting next month, Halevi will be without a deputy. Moreover, since Katz has declared that no appointments of senior officers will be made until the investigations into October 7 are concluded, neither Halevi nor the Security Minister will have the authority to make decisions on appointments.

Walla highlighted that the relationship between Katz and Halevi is fraught with tension. While the latter seeks to push forward dozens of appointments within the senior ranks of the Israeli military, Katz opposes such an approach and stresses that no appointments can be approved until the investigations are completed.

Senior Israeli military sources suggest that Halevi is unlikely to complete the investigations by the end of January and is expected to request an extension to finalize the inquiries, according to the media outlet.

Katz had emphasized the importance of completing the investigations by late January in order to present the findings to the Israeli public, draw the necessary lessons and conclusions, and assess their implications for promotion candidates.

The Walla report also pointed to another major development shaking the leadership of the Israeli military: the impending retirement of Major General Tamir Yadai after three years as Commander of the Ground Forces and 36 years of service in the Israeli military.

Currently on leave, Yadai is seen as a potential contender for the position of Deputy Chief of Staff in the future.

Netanyahu, Katz pressuring Halevi to resign: Reports

On Wednesday, the Israeli Channel 12 reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Israel Katz are pressuring Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi to resign, as they lack the courage to dismiss him directly.

Journalist Dafna Liel revealed to the channel that "Netanyahu has long been dissatisfied with Daniel Hagari as the spokesperson for the Israeli army and now seeks to remove the Chief of Staff as well."

Liel added that the two leaders are "searching for ways to pressure them to resign voluntarily since they do not have the courage to fire them outright."

Military analyst Nir Dvori commented on the escalating tensions between Halevi and Katz, stating, "There is a behind-the-scenes conflict that has surfaced publicly, reflecting an attempt to assert who the new leader of the security establishment is," namely, the Security Minister.

Dvori criticized these developments as "highly detrimental to Israel and inappropriate at this time," describing the situation as "a loss of reason." He questioned, "Where is the prudence and responsibility?"