IDF general promoted to lead West Bank forces despite past censures

A general who in the past was censured over the death of a military recruit, a subsequent subpar probe, and the death of another soldier has been tapped to head Israeli military forces in the West Bank.

Brig. Gen. Yaki Dolf, who currently serves as military secretary to Defense Minister Benny Gantz, had his promotion delayed for a year over the death of Ron Oved during a tryout for the Paratroopers Brigade in 2019 and the flawed investigation into the event.

Dolf, while serving as the commander of the Paratroopers Brigade, received an official censure on his record over the drowning of Sgt. Evyatar Yosefi, 20, in the Hilazon stream near the northern city of Karmiel, also in 2019.

Dolf will replace Brig. Gen. Avi Blot, the current commander of the Israel Defense Forces’ Judea and Samaria Division, in the coming months.

The IDF and Gantz have not yet named a new defense minister military secretary.