Major General Herzi Halevi new IDF Chief of Staff
The government of Israel has approved the appointment of Major General Herzi Halevi as the 23rd Chief of Staff of the IDF.
Benny Gantz and Major General Herzl (Herzi) Halevi. (Elad Malka)
The Cabinet vote came after Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled that it had the authority to make this appointment, even though new Knesset elections are only two weeks away.
The Outgoing IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi, congratulated Major General Halevi on his appointment
From the Chief of Staff’s words: “I welcome the government’s approval of the appointment of General Herzi Halevi as the 23rd Chief of Staff of the IDF. Herzi and I have known each other for many years, during which I got to know a brave, professional and talented officer. Herzi is an excellent and experienced officer and I am sure that he will continue to lead the IDF forward, given the expected challenges. I wish him great success.”
Prime Minister Lapid commented on the appointment, “The main challenge has not changed: Our enemies do not want the State of Israel to exist and at any given moment we must be stronger, more sophisticated and more determined than them.”
General Halevi was chosen for the post by Defense Minister Benny Gantz in September after what Gantz said was “a thorough assessment process conducted over the period of several months,” which included consultation with many senior officials, including former prime ministers, defence ministers, and Chiefs of Staff in the past, including the current Chief of Staff.
Gantz “came to the decision that Halevi is the most suitable officer in terms of the rich operational experience he has in a variety of arenas of action, as well as in terms of his command abilities and his approach to various military issues, which he has proven throughout his years of service in the field and at headquarters,” the Ministry of Defense stated.
Halevi previously served as commander of the Southern Command, chief of the Military Intelligence Directorate, commander of the 91st Division, commander of the Paratroopers Brigade, and commander of the elite Sayeret Matkal.
Maj.-Gen. Halevi was born and raised in Jerusalem. He is named after his uncle, Herzl Halevi of blessed memory, who was killed in the battle for Jerusalem in the Six Day War several months before the designated Chief of Staff was born.
Halevi studied in the Himelfarb religious high school in Jerusalem and was a member of the religious scouts. He is the first Orthodox Jew to serve as chief of staff.
Bible reading Christians like to see Israel succeed. We know that G-d gave you the land. Ezekiel 11:17. Ezekiel 38:8 accurately predicts Israel’s rebirth but the focus of the chapter is a future attack that prompts the Divine intervention that results in Jerusalem becoming the Eternal World Capital.
I see a dilemma for PM Netanyahu, Israel and the IDF. Who is Israel’s Protector and how much confidence should Israel have in the IDF?
Psalm 121 states that G-d is Israel’s Protector. How important is this point?
Judges 7:2 And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
Jerusalem the future World Capital:
Micah 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.