IDF Chief Zamir Pushes for Swift Approval of Next Navy Leader

In a rare public push, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir is urging swift action on the appointment of the next commander of the Israeli Navy. The call comes as Defense Minister Israel Katz has stalled several senior military promotions, leaving crucial leadership posts in limbo and prompting Zamir to take a firmer public stance.

At the heart of the matter is Vice Admiral Eyal Harel, the outgoing head of the IDF Planning Directorate and the clear choice for the next navy chief. Harel is widely viewed within military circles as uniquely qualified to lead the navy at this pivotal time, bringing decades of operational experience and strategic insight.

Current Navy Chief Vice Adm. David Saar Salama, who has led the branch since 2021, is preparing to step down in the coming months. Yet despite longstanding expectations that Harel would be his successor, Katz has not approved the transition. Zamir’s recent remarks at a change of leadership ceremony for the Planning Directorate made his preference public in a way that signals impatience with the delay.

Zamir’s appeal for approval was straightforward: he believes Harel is the right person for the navy’s next chapter and hopes the nomination is greenlit soon. Should the approval continue to lag, Harel faces an uncertain future, potentially remaining without a new post or prompting Zamir to find an alternative role for him.

The navy chief appointment is only one of three senior roles Katz has held up. The defense minister’s delays also affect the next head of the Air Force and the permanent IDF defense attaché to Washington. The attaché post was vacated months ago by Maj.-Gen. Hidai Zilberman, who moved toward a different command track in preparation to replace Harel.

Part of the tension stems from Zamir’s own choice for the Washington assignment. He favors Rear Adm. Tal Politis, a seasoned naval officer who has led the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit and served as deputy head of the navy. Katz, however, has not openly explained his objections to Politis and is pushing instead for Brig.-Gen. Guy Markizano a candidate Zamir did not endorse.

Earlier in his tenure, Zamir accommodated several of Katz’s preferences for high-level appointments. But after months of negotiation behind the scenes, Zamir has drawn a firm line around the three positions he deems critical. His public remarks are widely read as an effort to make Katz explain the hold-ups to the broader public.

Despite these senior-level disagreements, Zamir has seen success in recent weeks securing approval for dozens of other promotions across brigadier-general, colonel, and lieutenant-colonel ranks.

For now, Katz’s continued reservations have led to temporary solutions. Brig.-Gen. Arik Ben-Dov was named acting defense attaché in Washington in December, bridging the gap while the dispute over a permanent appointment continues. Meanwhile, the nomination of Brig.-Gen. Omer Tishler to succeed Air Force Chief Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar remains pending.

In the midst of these leadership debates, Israel’s commitment to a capable, forward-looking defense force remains clear. Ensuring that top military roles are filled with experienced, capable leaders is essential to Israel’s national security and regional stability.

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