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Defence Minister recommends extending term for IDF chief Eizenkot
Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman recommended yesterday that the IDF Chief of Staff should have his term extended by an extra year.
Lieberman released a statement announcing the decision. He said Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot is a “a valued chief of staff who has led the army to success and with great professionalism. The fruitful cooperation with him has allowed us to advance plans, to prepare the army for the challenges before it and to fortify the security of the State of Israel”.
It is understood that Lieberman’s decision was taken in coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It will require the approval of the cabinet, which is expected to discuss Eizenkot’s term on 29 January,
The IDF Chief of Staff serves for a three-year term, with the option of a fourth year extension. This had been granted almost routinely with some recent exceptions. Eizenkot’s predecessor, Gabi Ashkenazi was not offered an additional year, ending his term in 2011. His immediate predecessor Dan Halutz resigned before completing his initial three-year tenure.
Eizenkot is widely credited with successfully streamlining the IDF’s operation as part of a multi-year plan. He has also been praised for initiatives such as ensuring free higher education for all soldiers. But he was recently criticised by some groups for his statements about Elor Azaria, particularly where he appeared to presume Azaria was guilty before the trial had started. Azaria was found guilty of manslaughter for shooting dead a wounded Palestinian assailant in Hebron.
Eizenkot will today be hospitaliszed for an unspecified medical procedure. His deputy, Maj. Gen. Yair Golan will take command while he recovers.
According to the Turkish daily Hurriyet, Golan this week met with Turkey’s Chief of General Staff, Gen. Hulusi Akar on the sidelines of a NATO conference for defence chiefs in Brussels. It is the highest level meeting between Israeli and Turkish military officials since the two countries signed a reconciliation agreement last year, ending six years without diplomatic relations.