Israeli Defense Minister Announces Replacement for Central Command Chief Amid Dispute

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Sunday evening in a television interview that Major General Dado Bar-Kalifa, currently head of the Planning Directorate, will replace Major General Avi Blot as commander of the Central Command. This appointment, recommended by the Chief of Staff, comes unexpectedly early since Blot only assumed the role in July 2024 and his predecessor served three years. The authority to dismiss senior officers lies with the Chief of Staff, making Katz's announcement unusual.

The announcement follows a recent clash between Katz and Blot over a legal appeal. Blot challenged Katz's decision to accept an appeal against a restrictive administrative order imposed on Tal Yinon Dradik, who is suspected of abusing Palestinians and is currently on a hunger strike in detention. Katz criticized Blot for opposing his policy, stating that while the commander has legal authority, he should align with government policy. Katz said, "The general must consider our policy even if the authority is his."

Dradik has been under various restrictive orders since 2015, including the current one related to alleged involvement in abuse during the "Roar of the Lion" operation in the West Bank village of Humsa. He denies nationalist crimes, and no indictment has been filed yet. Katz and a special envoy met Dradik recently, offering alternatives to his detention, all of which he refused, continuing his hunger strike for about a month.

Katz framed Bar-Kalifa's appointment as part of a broader strategy to ensure decisive military action across Israel's fronts, emphasizing cooperation with government policy. The announcement was made on Channel 14, known for its Netanyahu and Likud affiliation, shortly before the Likud primaries. Despite the tension, Blot has been seen as implementing policies aligned with Defense Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Katz, particularly regarding settlement expansion and security in the West Bank.

Blot has led Central Command through a period of reduced terrorism in the West Bank and coordinated closely with security agencies. Smotrich praised Blot in November 2025 as "the best since I can remember." Katz's public move signals a shift in military leadership amid political maneuvering ahead of the Likud primaries.