Israel: Lieberman chooses new army Chief of Staff

Israel’s Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced on Friday Major General Aviv Kochavi as his candidate for Chief of Staff of the Israeli army.

Kochavi – if approved by Israeli Justice Eliezer Goldberg’s appointment committee on Sunday – would be put before the Israeli cabinet for approval, Ynet reported. Kochavi will replace the outgoing Chief of Staff – Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot.

“Major General Kochavi has impressive leadership skills, courage, creativity and impressive command capabilities,” Ynet reported Lieberman saying. He added:

The unique combination of IDF positions he has filled in the past, his ability to manage situations during times of emergency, the esteem in which he is held by his fellow officers […] all make him the most suitable candidate to lead the IDF in the coming years.

Kochavi previously served as commander of military intelligence, chief of the Northern Command – responsible for monitoring the border between Israel, Lebanon and Syria – and most recently as Eisenkot’s deputy. He also took part in quelling the first and second Palestinian Intifadas in 1987 and 2000 respectively and participated in the three latest major Israeli offensives on Gaza in 2008, 2012 and 2014.

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Quds Press quoted an Israeli TV channel as saying that Lieberman did not consult Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding this nomination, noting that Netanyahu is to publish a statement about the issue.