Israeli chief of staff to resign: Report
Ramallah, Palestine - Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi is expected to ‘resign in the coming period’, local media reported on Saturday.
After the Monday resignation of the country’s head of military intelligence Major General Aharon Haliva, it became clear that all officers responsible for failing to predict the October 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian group Hamas would ‘go home, starting with the Chief of Staff’, private broadcaster Channel 12 said.
It said many officers have sought legal representation ‘in preparation for war investigations’. The report claimed that Haliva had written his resignation letter to the Chief of Staff after receiving legal advice ‘assuming that all of his statements would also be presented to the investigation committee when it was formed’.
Haliva is the first in a series of commanders who ‘will be forced to retire in the near future’, it suggested, listing several other officers, including Head of the Shin Bet domestic security agency Ronen Bar.
Concerns are rising over what Halevi’s replacement will mean for the security and political systems, the channel added.
It said that many commanders who were once seen as potential successors, including Major General Yaron Finkelman and Major General Eliezer Toledano, are now ‘seen as part of the failure’.
Political circles now expect Major General Eyal Zamir, the director general of the Defence Ministry, to succeed Halevi, according to the source.
It has become clear that all officers responsible for failing to predict the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas would go home
Demand for early elections
Meanwhile, the Israelis protested on Friday against the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and demanded early elections and a hostage swap deal with the
Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, according to the media reports.
Around 100 Israelis, including relatives of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, rallied outside the house of War Cabinet minister, Benny Gantz, in Ras al-ayn (Rosh Haayin) in northern Israel.
The daily Times of Israel reported that protesters are calling for the release of the more than 100 hostages held in Gaza since October 7 along with the replacement of Netanyahu’s government.
“They are also calling on Gantz to resign from the emergency government,” it added.
Police were deployed around Gantz’s house to contain protesters. Two demonstrators were arrested for ‘violating public order’.
The War Cabinet member and former defence chief said earlier this month that ‘early elections should be held in September’.
Israel has been witnessing almost daily protests demanding Netanyahu expedite an agreement with Palestinian factions in Gaza and hold early elections.