The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee officially said goodbye Tuesday to Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Harel of the Israel Defense Forces, who is retiring from active duty after 35 years.
The committee presented the general with a relief of Jerusalem in recognition of the 23 positions he held during that time. One of those positions was Commander of the Southern Command during the uprooting of Jews from Gaza as part of the Disengagement of 2005. He was recognized by IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz for the stability of his work. Ashkenazi added that he expects Harel to continue to contribute to the IDF as a member of the reserves.