LTG Herzi Halevi Assumes the Position of IDF Chief of the General Staff

Today (Monday), LTG Herzi Halevi assumed his position as the 23rd Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.

Earlier today, LTG Herzi Halevi was awarded the rank of Lieutenant General in a ceremony led by the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israel’s Defense Minister, Mr. Yoav Gallant.

Afterwards, the 22nd Chief of the General Staff and the 23rd Chief of the General Staff visited the National Memorial Hall for Israel’s Fallen Soldiers at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. There, a joint memorial ceremony was held in memory of the IDF’s fallen soldiers who fell in defense of the State of Israel.

Following the memorial ceremony, the two visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem, and a ceremonial reception was held at the President’s Residence together with the wives of LTG Kohavi and LTG Halevi. During the reception, the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Isaac Herzog, presented a certificate of appreciation to the 22nd Chief of the General Staff, LTG Aviv Kohavi, in recognition of his contribution to the IDF and the State of Israel.

The main ceremony, which included honor guards for the 22nd Chief of the General Staff and the 23rd Chief of the General Staff, was held at Camp Rabin (Hakirya). Participating in the honor guards were Israeli government ministers, members of the Israeli Knesset, the IDF General Staff, senior officials from Israel’s Ministry of Defense, the commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), General ( * * * * ) Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the Deputy Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, Lieutenant General ( * * * ) Markus Laubenthal, foreign attachés, heads of organizations, bereaved families, former IDF commanders, family members and other invitees.

LTG Herzi Halevi, who most recently served as the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, will succeed the current Chief of the General Staff, LTG Aviv Kohavi. LTG Kohavi has served in the position for the past four years and is concluding over 40 years of service in the IDF.

The IDF, its soldiers and its commanders saluted the 22nd Chief of the General Staff and wished him success in his future endeavors.

The IDF, its soldiers and its commanders welcome and salute the 23rd Chief of the General Staff.

22nd Chief of the General Staff, LTG Aviv Kohavi:
"Dear all, as a young man, I chose combat service. I wanted to do my part by serving a meaningful service. My contribution has extended over four decades of defense and purpose. From one position to the next, the burden on my shoulders grew until it peaked in my role as Chief of the General Staff. I went about my duty each day with the feeling that the fate of the State of Israel and the IDF lay in my hands, but I was not carrying it alone. I want to express my gratitude to you, my soldiers. Every accomplishment we have made has been done as a team, and I consider each and every person who has worn an IDF uniform to be a son or daughter.

I am concluding a 40-year journey that has been both fascinating and significant. It included everything—successes, failures, peaceful moments and scars—but it would not have been possible without the stable, calming and sympathetic anchor I had at home: my daughters, Amit, Noam and Maya; and Yael, my wife. This was a joint journey, and I am grateful to all of you. I conclude my service satisfied and full of hope, thanks to the quality of the IDF’s people. Quality youth with high motivation for combat service who transform into great soldiers and subsequently into exceptional commanders.

My soldiers, I bid you farewell and entrust the security of the State of Israel and the ongoing campaign in your hands. From the first soldier to the last Major General, I bid you farewell with great appreciation and love.
The security of the State of Israel is first and foremost dependent on the quality of its military’s commanders. Let our enemies know: the IDF is stronger, more adaptable and possesses superior offensive capabilities. I bid farewell to the IDF, which I love dearly, salute you all and thank you for allowing me the honor to command the ‘people’s army,’ which defends the nation and embodies the good in them. 

Especially nowadays, in days of polarization and dispute, service in the IDF, which is common to all groups in Israeli society, serves as a reminder that we belong to one nation with a single objective and a shared future. The IDF is a place for self-realization, a place of truth and values in which we live a life full of meaning. You and I had another important task: protecting the lives of the soldiers. I felt the heavy weight of this responsibility and made an effort to fulfill it every day. I now ask that you send my condolences to the Zinobayev family. 

I hand this task to LTG Herzi Halevi, from this moment, our commander, an outstanding, professional, experienced and moral officer. To all the civilians of the State of Israel, you are in excellent hands. This was my part; it was a good journey in a great military, and serving our country is excellent and crucial. I salute you, my soldiers, and embrace you. You will forever be my soldiers, and from this moment forward, I am your soldier."

23rd Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi:
"Today I assume command of the Israel Defense Forces, the defender of the State of Israel and its civilians. When I enlisted, as a young man standing at the gates of the Bakum (IDF Induction Center), I had not anticipated such a long journey. Looking back, every position I served in during my 37 years of service contributed to this moment, in which I am allowed the privilege to command the IDF. Unfortunately, even in recent days, more names have been added to the list of the IDF’s fallen soldiers. We send our condolences to the bereaved families and are committed to doing everything in our power to understand, learn and prevent.

In the 75 years since we gained our independence, we have transformed from a nation surrounded by enemies to one that surrounds its enemies with its power and advanced capabilities, but a variety of threats continue to emerge around us. From the Iranian threat, for which Israel bears primary responsibility in assessing its resolution, to the Blue Line and the Gaza Strip, as well as the challenges in Judea and Samaria.
 
Our solution to these threats lies in the superiority of our security, deterrence, advanced capabilities and high competence. Our enemies must know that we are able to do as we say and that we are willing to do much more than what we say.
 
The 32nd Chief of the General Staff most likely began their Officers’ Course last week. We do not know who they might be, but it is our duty as commanders to position our very best at the front. Without them, it will be difficult to fix everything that was not achieved in the first place. Valuable, intelligent and brave people. We do not know who their parents are, but we know that they could come from all parts of Israeli society. The uniqueness of the IDF is that it was, and still is, a reflection of Israeli society. Special thanks to you, Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi. For years you commanded me, and for years I was your colleague; I learned a lot from you, and I can testify from close quarters that at every moment in your 40 years of service, and especially in the last four, you did your best for one noble goal: the security of the country.
 
Everything you have built will be preserved, strengthened, developed, and, where necessary, changed. We will prepare the IDF for battle in both near and distant battlefields; we will expand the enlistment of quality recruits from all facets of society, which constitutes the source of our power; we will strengthen our reserve troops; and we will maintain a united, practical, moral and professional IDF, free from all considerations other than that of security. A worthy commander shares the same destiny as his soldiers. I wish for us to fulfill these goals with strength and humility. I am honored to have been appointed by the nation's leaders, ministers and advisors, and I pledge to be a quality partner for them and to strengthen the hands of the defenders of our beloved country."