Bennett names Avi Gil as his military secretary

In return to previous practice, Gil to be promoted to major general in order to receive his new position, will replace Brig. Gen. Avi Blot

By Judah Ari Gross 12 July 2021, 10:07 am

Edit

Judah Ari Gross is The Times of Israel's religions and Diaspora affairs correspondent.

Then-Defense Minister Naftali Bennett (L) speaks with IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi (R) and Brig. Gen. Avi Gil, head of Northern Command's 36th Division, in the Golan Heights on December 18, 2019. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett picked Brig. Gen. Avi Gil to serve as his military secretary on Monday, replacing Brig. Gen. Avi Blot who has been in the role for the past three years.

“This [decision] was made following consultations with Defense Minister Benny Gantz, and at the recommendation of Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement.

The decision came after weeks of searching for a suitable candidate.

In addition, the government called for Gil to be promoted to the rank of major general, the military said.

From 2000 to 2015, only officers at the rank of major general could serve as military secretary to the prime minister. In 2015, partially as a cost-saving measure, the required rank was changed to brigadier general.

“In collaboration with the prime minister, defense minister and chief of staff, it was decided to raise the rank of military secretary to the prime minister to major general, as was done in the past,” the IDF said.

Gil currently serves as the head of the Training Division in the Operations Division and prior to that commander of 340th Idan Armored Division and 36th Armored Division.

Sources familiar with the nomination process told The Times of Israel last month that Brig. Gen. Shlomi Binder, the current commander of the 91st Galilee Division and a former commander of the elite Sayeret Matkal commando unit, had also been considered for the position.