The new IDF Chief of Staff has promised to remain neutral as he took office in a ceremony attended by his predecessor and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Herzi Halevi succeeded Aviv Kochavi as the 23rd Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff on Monday morning, pledging that security would be his main priority.
While addressing the audience of military officials at the handover, he said: “We will maintain a united, focused, moral and professional IDF, free from all considerations other than security."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yoav Galant both spoke at the ceremony. In his speech Galant referred to the tense political situation in the country, saying: "I will make sure that external pressures, political, legal, and others, will stop with me and not reach the gates of the IDF.”
In a touching speech, Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke of the moment he heard about the falling of Halevi’s late uncle during the Six Day War. Halevi, who is named after his late uncle listened as Netanyahu paid tribute to the former paratrooper.
He said: “In his footsteps, you also chose to serve as a protective shield for our country. It’s a piece of history. You are the first Chief of Staff that was born after the Six Day War.”
Netanyahu also added how impressed he was with Halevi’s “seriousness, determination, thoroughness, attention to detail and judgment.”
Towards the end of his speech, Netanyahu moved onto discussing the threat of Iran, saying: “Iran is responsible for 90% of the problems in the Middle East.
"This regime threatens to destroy us."
"We will not wait for a sharp sword to be placed on our necks. The IDF together with the Mossad and together with Shin Bet will do whatever it takes to prevent this.”
Halevi began his service in 1985 first in the Nahal Brigade and then trained as a paratrooper and rose through the ranks.
He previously held the positions of Sayeret Matkal (The General Staff Reconnaissance Unit) commander, head of the Southern Command, head of Military Intelligence and Deputy Chief of the General Staff.
Originally from Jerusalem, Halevi, 55, had a religious upbringing and education. He is married to Sharon and has four children.
His pledge to keep the IDF out of politics comes after his predecessor was criticised by members of the new government for speaking against them in media interviews.
During the last months of his tenure, Kochavi said that “any political interference in commanders’ decisions is unacceptable."
In an interview to Israel Hayom before his retirement, Kochavi emphasised,“The government must set policy, but only the IDF determines how to carry out the fighting itself, whether it is in Gaza, or the narrow alleys in Judea and Samaria; only the IDF determines what is moral and what is not; what is appropriate and what is not; and what is wrong.
"We will not deviate from the professional and moral principles and values."
