Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi Resigns, Calls for State Commission of Inquiry
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi announced his resignation on March 6, citing his promise to take responsibility for the October 7 failure. He will step down after two years and two months in office, about 10 months earlier than the standard three-year term.
Halevi made the announcement in a speech, where he also called for a state commission of inquiry to cover all issues relating to national security beyond the authority and control of the IDF. He refused to explain why he made the decision, but hinted at the possibility of other entities, including the government and the decisions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, probing the wider issues of the failure.
Despite his resignation, Halevi highlighted his and the military’s recent successes, including operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Assad regime in Syria, Iran, and Hamas’s 24 battalions. He also mentioned the IDF’s efforts to force Hamas into a hostage exchange deal, which began this week.
Halevi’s successor, Maj.-Gen. Yaron Finkelman, also announced his resignation, with an undefined date, suggesting that it could be decided by Halevi or his successor.
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz praised Halevi’s decision to resign and his decades of service to the military. However, many analysts believe that Netanyahu is trying to shift the blame for the October 7 failure to Halevi, hoping to avoid a state inquiry into his own role as the architect of containing Hamas and facilitating it receiving funds from Qatar while he was prime minister.
Several candidates have been identified as potential successors, including Eyal Zamir, Defense Ministry director-general, and outgoing Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Amir Baram. Katz has already started the process of vetting and interviewing candidates, with Zamir being the likely choice.
The resignation of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi has raised questions about the future of the Israeli military and its leadership. The recent departures of top officials have created uncertainty, with many expecting a shake-up in the armed forces.