Both Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer have approved Ya’alon’s appointment. The appointment came just after Ben-Eliezer rejected a proposal to extend IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz’s position, and at the same time as Arab terrorism continues to intensify.

The appointment of the new chief of staff must still be submitted to a government-appointment panel for approval. If he passes this final stage he will take office on July 9.

Ya’alon has served in many high-ranking military positions. He has served as Director of Military Intelligence, as OC Central Command and as Deputy Chief of the IDF General Staff, among other positions.

The other candidates for the position included National Security Advisor Uzi Dayan, former military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Amos Malka and current Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Dan Helutz.

Defense Ministry officials said Ben-Eliezer and Ya’alon would soon appoint senior military officials, including the post of deputy chief of staff. Gabi Ashkenazi, current head of the military’s Northern Command is being looked upon as the favorite for this position.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 17th, 2002 and is filed under hotnews.