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Sunday, September 7, 2025
Former senior police officer Yoram Halevi to head COGAT, Israel’s liaison to Palestinians
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Retired senior police officer Yoram Halevi has been appointed as the next chief of Israel’s liaison body to the Palestinians, the military and Defense Minister Israel Katz announce.
It is unprecedented for a former senior police officer to be given a top role in the IDF.
Halevi was selected to head the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) by Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.
Katz’s office says the defense minister interviewed several candidates for the role, “and after consideration, it was decided to appoint Halevi to the position.”
He will replace Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian, who has served in the role for the past four years.
Deputy Commissioner (ret.) Halevi previously headed the Israel Police’s Jerusalem and Southern districts, the Border Police, the Lahav 433 major crimes unit, and the elite Yamam counterterrorism unit, and served in other top roles.
In a statement, Katz says, “Halevi has extensive experience by virtue of the many roles he has filled in the past with great distinction in the Israel Police, including as commander of the Jerusalem District. He is very familiar with the Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and with the Palestinian issue, and I am convinced he will carry out the role in the best possible way.”
Halevi will be awarded the rank of major general upon entering the role of head of COGAT and will join the IDF’s General Staff Forum.
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