Meet the Israeli Army’s New Chief of Staff
A veteran of numerous command positions, Major General Herzi Halevi is the first observant Jew to serve as chief of staff.
Herzi Halevi s the first religious Jew to serve as chief of staff.On Sunday the government of Israel approved the appointment of Major General Herzi Halevi as the 23rd Chief of Staff of the IDF. 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 Halevi on his appointment
General Kochavi welcomed the appointment saying:
“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 Yair 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 he said was “a thorough assessment process conducted over the period of several months,” which included consultation with many senior officials, including former prime ministers, defense ministers, and former Chiefs 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.
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 observant Jew to serve as chief of staff.
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