Defense Minister Israel Katz Names Dado Bar-Kalifa as New Central Command Chief Amidst Tensions

On August 2, 2026, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced in a Channel 14 interview his intention to appoint Major General Dado Bar-Kalifa as the new commander of the IDF Central Command, replacing Major General Avi Blot. Katz made the announcement live without prior consultation with the Chief of Staff, breaking customary protocol for such high-level military appointments. Katz praised Bar-Kalifa as a "heroic and decisive generation" leader and confirmed he trusts him to implement his policies, noting that the Chief of Staff recommended Bar-Kalifa for the role.

This announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Katz and the current Central Command chief, Avi Blot, which peaked last week over Katz's demand not to renew an administrative restraining order against IDF officer Tal Yinon Dardik. Katz instructed Blot to refrain from extending the order, but Blot and the military prosecution appealed to the district court to keep it in place. Dardik is suspected of involvement in abuse against Palestinians, including a nationalist-motivated sexual assault in March in the West Bank village of Huwara. The restraining order, signed by Blot based on Shin Bet recommendations, barred Dardik from certain areas, but after Dardik violated it, he was arrested and charged.

The military appeals court recently ruled to cancel the restraining order due to procedural flaws, but delayed the ruling’s implementation by 48 hours to allow the state to appeal. Katz's office explained his unprecedented intervention by citing the court's finding of defects in the order's issuance. Normally, only commanders issue such orders, and defense ministers have historically avoided interfering. Katz's decision followed a meeting with Shin Bet representatives amid political pressure and media leaks about Dardik's alleged dangerousness.

Blot and the military prosecution's appeal against Katz's directive has escalated the conflict between the defense minister and senior IDF leadership. If the district court rejects the state's appeal, Blot will face a choice between following Katz's instructions or issuing a new restraining order under his authority. For now, the restraining order remains temporarily in effect pending the court's final decision.