The IDF announced on Monday evening a series of new appointments for senior officers, following their approval by Defense Minister Israel Katz. The most prominent appointment is that of Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa, who will be appointed Commander of the Central Command, replacing Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth.
The appointment sparked controversy three weeks ago, when, during a live interview in front of a studio audience on Channel 14, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Bar Kalifa's appointment while sharply criticizing Maj. Gen. Bluth.
Bar Kalifa was born in 1976 and enlisted in the IDF in 1995, joining the Golani Brigade. He later served in several positions in the Givati Brigade, and from 2014 to 2016 served as commander of the Southern Brigade in the Gaza Division. He subsequently returned to command the Givati Brigade.
During the Swords of Iron War, Bar Kalifa led the 36th "Ga'ash" Division during the ground maneuver in central Gaza. He was later appointed head of the IDF Personnel Directorate.
Alongside Bar Kalifa's appointment, numerous additional appointments of officers at the ranks of brigadier general and colonel were approved:
Brig. Gen. R. will be appointed commander of the Special Operations Division in the IDF Intelligence Directorate.
Brig. Gen. Hai Kfir Magnazi will be appointed Chief of Staff of the Technology and Logistics Directorate.
Col. Elad Benano Tzion will be appointed head of the Logistics Division in the Technology and Logistics Directorate and promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
Col. Avi Malka will be appointed commander of the General Staff Supply Center in the Technology and Logistics Directorate and promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
Col. Yonatan Schneider will be appointed head of the Tevel Division in the Planning Directorate and promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
Col. Yonatan Meir will be appointed commander of the 7th "Saar me-Golan" Brigade.
Col. Tal Elkobi will be appointed commander of the 188th "Barak" Brigade.
Col. Efrat Kikuv will be appointed commander of the 282nd Fire Brigade.
Col. Bar Bashan will be appointed commander of the 84th Givati Brigade.
Col. Eitan Gilad will be appointed commander of the 933rd Nahal Brigade.
Col. Ran Friedman will be appointed commander of the 35th Paratroopers Brigade.
Col. Shimon Siso will be appointed commander of the 89th Commando Brigade.
Col. Nir Ifergan will be appointed commander of the 900th Kfir Brigade.
Col. Niv Dauba will be appointed commander of the 460th "Bnei Or" Brigade.
Col. A. will be appointed commander of the Israeli Navy's Shayetet 13.
Col. B. will be appointed commander of the Israeli Navy's Submarine Flotilla (Shayetet 7).
Col. V. will be appointed commander of the Israeli Navy's Missile Boat Flotilla (Shayetet 3).
Col. Daniel Kreuzman will be appointed commander of the School of Field Artillery.
Col. Adniram Sharabi will be appointed commander of the School of Military Engineering.
Col. Aviel Balhassan will be appointed head of the Training Department in the IDF Ground Forces.
Col. Anan Fares will be appointed Operations Officer of the Southern Command.
Col. Dvir Avraham Diamond will be appointed Operations Officer of the Northern Command.
Col. A. will be appointed head of the Operational Planning Department in the Operations Directorate.
Col. Y. will be appointed head of the Planning Department in the Planning Directorate.
Col. Regina Azulai will be appointed head of the Organization Department in the Planning Directorate.
Col. Meir Azulai will be appointed head of the Logistics and Operations Department in the Technology and Logistics Directorate.
Col. Roi Nadler will be appointed head of the Medical Department and Deputy Chief Medical Officer.
Col. Assaf Shlomo Gabai will be appointed commander of the "Afek" Command and Staff Course at the IDF Military Colleges.
Lt. Col. A. will be appointed head of the Air Defense and Collection Department in the Israeli Air Force and promoted to the rank of colonel.
Lt. Col. A. will be appointed commander of the Control and Operations Unit in the Israeli Air Force and promoted to the rank of colonel.
Lt. Col. A. will be appointed head of the Security Department in the Israeli Air Force and promoted to the rank of colonel.
Lt. Col. R. will be appointed commander of the Israeli Navy's Ashdod Base and promoted to the rank of colonel.
Lt. Col. S. will be appointed commander of the Israeli Navy's Training Base and promoted to the rank of colonel.
Lt. Col. Assaf Iluz will be appointed Human Resources Officer of the Southern Command and promoted to the rank of colonel.
Lt. Col. Bat-El Zehava Stefansky will be appointed Human Resources Officer of the Northern Command and promoted to the rank of colonel.
Lt. Col. Uriel Zamir will be appointed head of the Human Resources Department in the Technology and Logistics Directorate and promoted to the rank of colonel.
Lt. Col. Reut Deri Hamatzani will be appointed head of the Supply Department in the Technology and Logistics Directorate and promoted to the rank of colonel.
Lt. Col. Reut Ofer will be appointed head of the Human Resources Department in the C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate and promoted to the rank of colonel.
Lt. Col. Ariel Hochman will be appointed head of the MAHAR Department in the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) and promoted to the rank of colonel.
At the same time, a number of officers will leave their current positions to pursue studies, including Col. Netanel Shamcha, Col. Gilad Shriki, Col. Idan Bernstein, Col. Yarin Amar, Col. Mordi Aharon Weiss, Col. Shaul Israeli, Col. Michael Sharvit, Col. Oded Ziman, Col. Moshe Passal, Col. Revital Barazani Koka Anrias, Col. Adina Avni, Col. Meital Shindler, Col. Shani Abergel, and Col. Omri Teller.