IDF Chief and Finance Minister Clash Over Civil Administration Appointment Amid Budget Threats
A sharp dispute has erupted between IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich regarding the appointment of the next head of the Civil Administration, the military body managing civilian affairs in Area C of the West Bank. The position is currently vacant after Brigadier General Hisham Ibrahim was reassigned as the military secretary to Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Zamir rejects the candidates proposed by the political echelon and insists on postponing the appointment until after the upcoming elections, hoping a new government will allow him to appoint a preferred candidate. He has suggested appointing one of two former heads of the Civil Administration, notably Brigadier General (res.) Fares Attila, a move that has sparked significant controversy. Attila is viewed by the political leadership as a red line due to his association with the "old guard" approach, which treats the West Bank primarily as a military-administered territory, complicating recent civilian reforms.
Smotrich and his associates have threatened to withhold funding from the IDF if their preferred candidates are not appointed, warning, "We will stop budgets for the army, we do not play with us." To manage the impasse, Zamir and Defense Minister Katz agreed on an interim solution whereby the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) commander, Yoram Halevi, will temporarily fill the role.
The controversy highlights tensions between the military and political leadership over control of the Civil Administration, a key body influencing settlement policies and civilian governance in the West Bank. The appointment's outcome remains uncertain pending the elections and potential government changes.
The IDF responded to the reports by denying any communication between Zamir and Smotrich on this matter, stating, "There is not a shred of truth in the publication. There has never been any communication between the Chief of Staff and Minister Smotrich on this issue."
