Defense Minister Says Central Command Chief Will Be Removed; IDF Says He Will Stay

The Yesha Council issued a statement this morning (Monday) supporting Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, while also backing Defense Minister Israel Katz for his achievements in advancing the settlement movement. 

The Yesha Council’s response to Bluth’s dismissal stated: ״We wish to express our support for Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth. Maj. Gen. Bluth has dedicated his life to the security of the state. His assertive military leadership in the field has brought major successes in the fight against terrorism, alongside close and respectful work with the settlement movement״.

It further stated: ״We strengthen the hands of the defense minister, who is leading a genuine revolution in strengthening Israel’s security, defeating terrorism, and developing the settlement movement in Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley. Local council leaders will meet with the defense minister this afternoon״.

An unusual clash between the defense minister and the IDF’s top command developed following the minister’s announcement last night in a television interview that he intended to remove Maj. Gen. Bluth. The announcement sparked an uproar in the security establishment and led to a public exchange of messages between the defense minister’s office and the IDF spokesperson, with each side presenting a different account of the move.

Shortly after the Channel 14 interview aired, the IDF spokesperson issued an unusual statement clarifying that the move had not been coordinated with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and that, at this stage, there was no intention to replace the Central Command chief. The statement said: "Maj. Gen. Bluth commands Central Command in a complex reality, with professionalism, courage, and dedication, and he enjoys full confidence. The chief of staff has no intention of replacing commanders in key positions during this sensitive period."

In contrast, the defense minister’s office rejected the claim that this was a unilateral move, arguing that the decision was actually based on a recommendation made by the chief of staff several months ago.

According to the office’s statement, "Already at the end of April, the chief of staff recommended that Minister Katz appoint Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as Central Command chief, and even asked him to interview him for the role. The defense minister concluded that he was the most suitable candidate to command Central Command, and has now decided to announce his acceptance of the chief of staff’s recommendation and the expected appointment in the next round of appointments."

Yesterday, during an interview on the program "The Patriots," Katz explained the background to his clash with Bluth. According to Katz, the crisis arose after the major general decided to appeal to the court over the release of settler Tal Yinon Dardik: "They did it against my position; it was the wrong move. My control over the system is absolute."

The announcement also prompted sharp reactions outside the IDF. Reserve Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter criticized the minister’s handling of the matter: "The way Maj. Gen. Bluth was dismissed is a severe blow to public trust." In his words, "Avi Bluth is one of the generals who did more than anyone else to advance sovereignty and defend the settlement movement. Israel’s defense minister does not fire a general on live television. If you have criticism, call him in for a clarification. This is not the way. This is not how public trust is built."

On the other hand, the move also received support in the political arena. Knesset member Limor Son Har-Melech of the Otzma Yehudit party praised Katz for his decision and attacked Bluth: "He failed in his role. He chose to turn the hilltop residents into the enemy. Under his command, settlers were repeatedly persecuted while Arab terrorism continued to intensify. Anyone who wants to set security policy is welcome to take off the uniform and run for the Knesset. As long as he serves in the IDF, he is bound by government policy, not his personal worldview."