Maj. Gen. Amir Baram named as deputy to new IDF chief Halevi
Former Northern Command head selected by defense minister, following recommendations by outgoing and incoming army heads
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Maj. Gen. Amir Baram, the former head of the military’s Northern Command, was named Monday as the next deputy chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces.
Baram will enter the role when the current deputy, Maj. Gen. Herzi Halevi, becomes leader of the Israel Defense Forces on January 17.
The decision to appoint Baram was made by Defense Minister Benny Gantz, following recommendations made by Halevi and by outgoing military chief Aviv Kohavi.
The cabinet officially voted to confirm Halevi as the next Israel Defense Forces chief of staff on Sunday, clearing the final hurdle for him to step into the role early next year.
Gantz met Baram earlier Monday to notify him of the decision.
“Maj. Gen. Baram, whom I have known for decades, is a high-class officer with extensive operational experience. In recent years, he has led significant and successful processes in the northern arena, and he has all the necessary qualities to fulfill the task and serve as deputy chief of staff,” Gantz said in remarks provided by his office.
Baram, 53, completed his tenure as chief of the IDF Northern Command last month. Previously, he commanded the Paratroopers Brigade, the unit he was first drafted into in 1988.
The decision to approve Halevi as the next chief of staff was made despite the fact that the government gave its final approval just 10 days before the November 1 general election.
In a pool of three candidates, Halevi, 54, was seen as the frontrunner for the position, having served as the head of the IDF Southern Command and head of Military Intelligence, following years as a field commander in the Paratroopers Brigade and elite Sayeret Matkal reconnaissance unit.
