Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman defended the candidacy of General Yair Golan to chief of staff. "General Yair Golan is an excellent officer and a brave commander who dedicated his life to the security of Israel," Liberman said. Over 100 members of bereaved families sent a letter to Liberman asking that Golan not be considered for the IDF's top position given his statements about the mistreatment of Palestinian Arabs by the army.