From the Liveblog of
Friday, May 23, 2025
IDF says chief of staff didn’t dismiss Zini from service, but both ‘agreed he would retire’
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The military, in a statement, says that Maj. Gen. David Zini “was not dismissed from the IDF,” after this morning, when Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir decided to end his service after he was appointed to be the next head of the Shin Bet in an uncoordinated move.
“In a conversation this morning between the chief of staff and the general, it was agreed that he would retire from the IDF in light of his appointment as head of the Shin Bet,” the army says.
An earlier statement from the army implied that he was being dismissed because Zini, an active duty general, was appointed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu without any consultation with Zamir.
“Maj. Gen. Zini is a respected officer with many merits,” the IDF adds.
The Times of Israel Community.