Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday evening called on Defense Minister Benny Gantz to extend the term of IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi and not to announce the appointment of a new IDF Chief of Staff during an election period.
"Do not appoint a Chief of Staff during an election period," Netanyahu wrote to Gantz. "It is imperative that this appointment be done in a statesmanlike manner and as far away as possible from any political context."
Netanyahu explained to the Defense Minister that "the appointment of the Chief of Staff is one of the most sensitive and important appointments for Israel's security. The appointment of senior officials should be determined by a permanent government, and not by a transitional government in the midst of elections. This is how Israeli governments behaved in the past, including the governments headed by me, and this is how we should behave today as well."
Kochavi will conclude his term in office on January 15, 2023, two and a half months after the Knesset elections, on November 1. "If necessary, the government can also extend his term by a few weeks, as was done in the past with similar appointments of the head of the Shin Bet and the head of the Mossad," Netanyahu mentioned.
Gantz later replied to Netanyahu and said, "The appointment of a Chief of Staff is necessary for the functioning of the entire defense establishment. The promotion of the appointment was approved by the Attorney General, as has also happened in the past. Netanyahu, as Prime Minister and former Defense Minister, is well aware of these needs."
Gantz explained that "the process of appointing the Chief of Staff begins a long time in advance, and Netanyahu is well aware of the consequences of delaying the appointment. I regret the fact that he chooses to take the issue into the political context in a way that may harm the security of Israel and the IDF."
Gantz said that he invited Netanyahu "to voice his position and contribute to the process - even if he chooses not to come, I will continue to move forward in the comprehensive and in-depth process, and appoint a Chief of Staff in the coming weeks."
The 23rd Chief of Staff will be either Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Herzi Halevi or his predecessor Major General Eyal Zamir. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara allowed the advancement of the process of appointing the Chief of Staff despite the election period.