Shlomi Binder to replace Military Intelligence Directorate chief who resigned over Oct. 7 failures

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Commander of the Galilee Division, Brig. Gen. Shlomi Binder, takes part in an exercise simulating fighting on the Lebanese border in northern Israel on February 10, 2021. (Israel Defense Forces)
Commander of the Galilee Division, Brig. Gen. Shlomi Binder, takes part in an exercise simulating fighting on the Lebanese border in northern Israel on February 10, 2021. (Israel Defense Forces)

The Israeli military announces a series of senior appointments, including the next head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, after the current top intel officer resigned over his role in the failures that led to the Hamas terror group’s October 7 onslaught.

Brig. Gen. Shlomi Binder, who currently serves as head of the Operations Division, will be appointed as the next chief of the Military Intelligence Directorate. Binder previously commanded the 91st “Galilee” Regional Division.

The current top intel chief, Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva, announced his resignation last month.

Brig. Gen. Avi Blot, who currently serves as the head of the Command and Staff College, will be appointed as the next chief of the Central Command, replacing Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fox, who recently decided to end his 36-year-long military career.

Brig. Gen. Dan Goldfus, who currently commands the 98th Division, will be appointed as the next head of the Northern Corps and Maneuver Array. Goldfus led his division during four months of fighting in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis.

Brig. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa, the commander of the 36th Division, will be appointed as head of the Personnel Directorate. Bar Kalifa led his division during months of fighting in northern Gaza.

Brig. Gen. Aviad Dagan, a senior Israeli Air Force officer, will be appointed as the next head of the Computer Service Directorate.

The nominated officers will all be promoted to the rank of major general in the coming months before they enter their roles.

The IDF says the appointments were made by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, following a “lengthy process.”

The officers chosen for the top roles are “commanders who stood out in combat in the field and at headquarters,” the military says.

The appointments are made by Gallant and Halevi despite opposition by some lawmakers, who have said that the military should not make such changes amid the war.

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