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General Staff
Maj. Gen. Yoel Strick, head of the IDF Northern Command, in an undated photograph. (Israel Defense Forces)
February 17, 2019, 11:01 pm
IDF chief taps new head for embattled Ground Forces
In first round of appointments since beginning his tenure, Aviv Kohavi names new head of Northern Command, defense attache to US and commander of military colleges
By Judah Ari Gross
Then Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset, April 22, 2013 (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
November 19, 2018, 5:09 pm
Deriding Bennett, Netanyahu says IDF soldiers ‘are not afraid of anyone’
PM hits back at Jewish Home head’s claim that army’s Military Advocate General prevents soldiers from carrying out their fighting duties
By Raoul Wootliff
A photo of Rafah in southern Gaza on August 2, 2014, one day after the abduction and killing of Lt. Hadar Goldin (Hatem Ali/ AP Photo)
August 15, 2018, 8:10 pm
IDF clears troops in massive deadly bombardment during 2014 Gaza war
Army’s top lawyer determines that the 72 civilians killed in offensive after capture of soldier were not deliberately targeted and officers worked to prevent deaths of bystanders
By Judah Ari Gross
Military Advocate General Sharon Afek receives the rank of major general from IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, right, during a ceremony in the IDF's Tel Aviv headquarters on July 12, 2018. (Israel Defense Forces)
July 12, 2018, 4:46 pm
IDF promotes its first openly gay major general, Sharon Afek
The army’s top lawyer receives higher rank in light of international law’s growing importance in modern warfare, military says
By Judah Ari Gross
Military Advocate General Brig. Gen. Sharon Afek speaks at a conference on the law of armed conflict outside Tel Aviv, on April 25, 2017. (Roy Alima/Flash90)
May 3, 2018, 9:55 pm
IDF’s top lawyer to become first openly gay major general
Military Advocate General Sharon Afek will be promoted in light of international law’s growing importance in warfare
By Judah Ari Gross
Soldiers holding a position in a mountainous area near the eastern town of Ras Baalbek during an operation against jihadist fighters, on August 17, 2017, in a photograph taken during a tour guided by the Lebanese army. (AFP PHOTO / STRINGER)
April 16, 2018, 9:34 pm
Liberman adds Lebanese army to list of threats on northern border
At pre-Independence Day event, defense minister tells IDF top brass to prepare for Iran-led coalition; Netanyahu skips confab
By Judah Ari Gross
Soldiers from the IDF's Home Front Command perform search and rescue exercises during a nationwide, week-long, emergency preparedness drill in March 2018. (Israel Defense Forces)
March 15, 2018, 6:59 pm
In war games, 100 Israelis ‘killed’ as army preps for attacks on multiple fronts
IDF concludes exercises preparing home front for war, which included mock evacuations, rocket attacks
By Judah Ari Gross
An Israel Military Industries EXTRA missile is fired from its launcher. (Israel Military Industries)
February 2, 2018, 5:39 pm
Israel said set to build up vast medium-range missile array
To counter Hezbollah, Defense Minister Liberman reportedly approves half-billion shekel initial funding for project
By Judah Ari Gross
Brig. Gen. Ariella Lazrovitch receives her rank from IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and her daughter, along with a new position as chief economic adviser for the military on July 27, 2017. (IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
July 27, 2017, 7:11 pm
Ariella Lazrovitch becomes 4th woman to serve on IDF General Staff
Newly appointed brigadier general, one of five currently in the army, will advise military on financial, budgetary issues
By Judah Ari Gross
Incoming Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi shakes hands with IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot at a ceremony in the army's Tel Aviv headquarters on May 11, 2017. (Israel Defense Forces)
May 11, 2017, 7:07 pm
Aviv Kochavi takes over from Yair Golan as IDF deputy chief
Muni Katz replaces Tal Russo as head of mysterious Depth Corps; Liberman says army’s ‘human element’ has no parallel
By Judah Ari Gross
Then-newly appointed Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman alongside IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkott during a ceremony welcoming him to the ministry, May 31, 2016. (Ariel Harmoni/Ministry of Defense)
January 18, 2017, 8:03 pm
Liberman opts to give army chief extra year in saddle
Pending approval from the government, Eisenkot to remain in his position until February 2019
By Judah Ari Gross
Benjamin Netanyahu, center, at a pre-holiday toast for top defense brass, including Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, far left, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, left, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, right and Director General of the Defense Ministry Dan Harel, in army headquarters in Tel Aviv on May 9, 2016. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)
May 9, 2016, 9:37 pm
PM: General’s remarks paralleling Israel, pre-WWII Germany ‘behind us’
Netanyahu steps back after criticizing deputy IDF chief for warning on treatment of those outside mainstream Israeli society
By Judah Ari Gross
A soldier from the Lions of the Jordan Battalion participates in an exercise on June 8, 2015. (IDF Spokesperson's Unit/Flickr)
March 13, 2016, 6:36 am
New combat positions for women in the IDF, same old obstacles
As the army makes strides in increasing gender equality, both physiological and cultural barriers keep female officers from the General Staff
By Judah Ari Gross
The S-400 anti-aircraft missile system on display in Russia. (CC BY-SA Соколрус/Wikimedia)
December 4, 2015, 5:17 pm
Top IDF officer: In our nightmares, we never saw Russia’s S-400 in Syria
Still, General Staff member says missile defense system, which can reach as far as Ben Gurion Airport, is not currently a threat to Israel
By TOI staff
Former IDF chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi in 2014 (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
August 13, 2015, 4:12 am
A-G likely to close case against ex-IDF chief
State prosecutors determine there is insufficient evidence to indict Gabi Ashkenazi in Harpaz affair
By TOI staff
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