(IsraelNN.com) Brigadier-General Nitzan Alon was appointed Wednesday to head the IDF's Judea and Samaria Division in a military ceremony at the Division's headquarters in Beit El. Central Command Chief Major-General Gadi Shamni was also present at the ceremony.

Tibon has been the target of criticism from Jews in Judea and Samaria, and protests have been held outside his home. One reason for these protests was the issuing of distancing orders against Jews who live in Judea and Samaria, preventing them from living in their own homes for months on end. Other protests came after the army decided to open a major thoroughfare in Hevron to Arab traffic – an act which nationalists said would endanger Jews.

Brig.-Gen. Alon replaces Brig.-Gen. Noam Tibon, who headed the Judea and Samaria Division for the past two years. Tibon will become the next commander of the IDF's Command and Staff College.

Maj.-Gen. Shamni said at the ceremony that “in the past two years Noam has led the Judea and S
"In the past two years Noam has led the Judea and Samaria Division to unprecedented successes."
amaria Division to unprecedented successes. The vanquishing of the terror infrastructure, negation of the ability of the terror organizations to carry out murderous attacks against Israel's homefront, the existence of an ordered fabric of life and the improvement of coordination with international and Palestinian elements in the Division's sector of command. These are but a small part of the numerous important processes that Noam initiated and led in his term.”:

Outgoing Division Commander Tibon said that “from the moment I received the position in July of 2007 I was aware of my full responsibility, as Commander of Judea and Samaria, for the security of the State of Israel. Together with my comrades in the security forces, we brought terror to its lowest level in the past decade, with thousands of brave and dangerous actions carried out by thousands of soldiers and commanders. I am a great believer in the idea that terror is eliminated not just through force but also through creating hope and normalcy in the Palestinians' lives for a better future of dialogue.”

Incoming commander Brig.-Gen. Nitzan Alon said: “The Division's mission is to defend the residents in the sector, prevent the carrying out of terror attacks in Israel's civilian rear, and fighting terror while preserving a decent fabric of life. Carrying this out in a complex and changing reality requires straight thinking, hard work and maintenance of humane values. The Judea and Samaria Division will continue to act for the security of the State of Israel and for the protection of its sovereignty and residents."