Maj.-Gen. Shamni
Maj.-Gen. ShamniIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni, outgoing Head of Central Command, had sharp rebukes Wednesday for nationalists who demonstrated outside his home and the homes of other officers to protest the razing of outposts, calling them “elements that wish to damage the foundations of democracy and cause us to fear them.”

"Unfortunately,” Shamni said, “we have seen illegitimate phenomena of applying pressure on commanders and their family members to try and deter them from taking the right decisions.” He mentioned “cases in which soldiers, police and bearers of official positions were hurt.”

The grassroots Council of Binyamin Residents rejected Shamni's statements. “Shamni is the last person who can teach us values, morality and democracy,” stated Lt.-Col. (res.) Itzik Shadmi, who heads the council. “In contravention of decisions by the High Court and through methods of deception, Shamni demolished structures at the community of Yair. Shamni is the one who testified against his officers and soldiers who risk their lives in defense of the country's security. It would behoove Shamni to retire from the military in silence and in shame.”



Activist Baruch Marzel said: “Thank G-d for ridding us of this punishment. As one who loves the military [I say that] the departures of Shamni and Tibon will only strengthen the residents' connection and trust in the IDF. Shamni mixed his leftist views into his job as commander.

Ground Forces Commander Avi Mizrachi was appointed as Head of Central Command instead of Shamni, who will become IDF military attache in Washington.