Katz okays next heads of air force, navy after months of delay amid spat with Zamir |
Defense Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday said he had approved the appointment of Brig. Gen. Omer Tischler as the next chief of the Israeli Air Force and Vice Adm. Eyal Harel as the next commander of the Israeli Navy.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir had sought for months to get their appointments approved, but Katz delayed making a decision amid a spat with the military chief.
Katz said in a statement that he approved the appointments after the Defense Establishment Comptroller, Brig. Gen. (res.) Yair Volansky, conducted “a comprehensive and thorough review” of Tischler, who had served as IAF chief of staff ahead of and on October 7, 2023, when the Hamas terror group launched its terror onslaught.
“After reviewing all the findings, he recommended approving the appointment,” Katz said.
Katz added that the military’s review of its internal October 7 probes found no issues regarding Harel, who until recently served as head of the Planning Directorate, that would affect his candidacy for the role of Navy chief.
“These are two outstanding officers who will add to the strength of the IDF in the air and at sea. I wish them great success in their roles and emphasize the importance of strengthening the IDF and its branches to ensure the security of the State of Israel in the face of the security challenges confronting it,” Katz said.
The defense minister had initially refused to approve the nominations of the next IAF and Navy chiefs, made by Zamir in early October, until his own military........