The New Commanding Officer of the Southern Command

The Commanding Officer of the Southern Command, MG Eliezer Toledano, is concluding his position. Replacing him will be MG Yaron Finkelman. The change of command ceremony was held this morning (Sunday), in the Southern Command Headquarters in Be’er Sheva. It was led by the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, and included the participation of members of the General Staff, the Commanding Officers of the Command’s units and additional guests.
 
MG Toledano commanded the Southern Command over the course of the past two and a half years, including three significant operations against terrorist organizations in Gaza: Operation "Guardian of the Walls" against Hamas, and Operations "Breaking Dawn" and "Shield and Arrow" against the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. MG Toledano furthermore commanded dozens of operational activities and strikes with the goal of harming the terrorist organizations’ abilities to strengthen and arm themselves, as well as initiated the multi-organizational program "Magen Hanegev" (Defender of the Negev) to strengthen the IDF’s security components in the Negev region.

 
Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi:
"This period of time obliges us to focus on the mission of defense and our unity that supports it. This focus allows us to be ready for any challenge in any arena. In the current reality, we do not have the privilege of not showing up for every single challenge and task.
We have recently witnessed in both Operation "Shield and Arrow" and the operational counterterrorism efforts in Jenin that the different arenas influence one another. Therefore, we require wisdom in the deployment of forces and need independent, strong commands.
At times we pay a painful price for the deployment of forces - last week we lost two soldiers: the late David Yehuda Yitzhak and Shilo Yosef Amir. The fight against terrorism does not conclude with one operation; It requires operational determination and perseverance alongside the resilience of an entire state and its civilians. So does the effort to return our soldiers. We know that the residents of the south have this resilience, despite all the challenges and thanks to the ongoing cooperation between the civilian leadership and the IDF."

 
Outgoing Commanding Officer of the Southern Command, MG Eliezer Toledano:
"Dear soldiers, I would like to share the first lesson that accompanied me throughout my time as the Commanding Officer of the Southern Command: When facing Hamas, victory will be achieved by people who look closely at one another, and from that look, a sense of commitment and responsibility for fulfilling their mission is born. We have developed a simple conception when facing terrorist organizations in Gaza: As long as the security stability is maintained, we will support the continued stable lives of the residents of Gaza. That said, we will prevent the strengthening of terrorist organizations in every possible way, and we will respond firmly to any disturbance in the current peaceful state and any possible escalation. We will do it as the guardians of the walls, at the break of dawn, holding the shield and shooting the arrows. Gaza will continue to be an operational challenge, and we must ensure that facing it will not cloud the more complex challenge - Iran. As I conclude my position, I hope that my decisions and actions were worthy and righteous: towards my soldiers, their families and the State of Israel".

 
Incoming Commanding Officer of the Southern Command:
"Commanders and soldiers of the Southern Command, I believe in you. I have faith in the great human strength here today and I trust that we will operate together to defend the State of Israel. Who are we doing this for? We are doing this for the residents of the south, with the leadership of the heads of the local authorities and communities. I have had the privilege of serving, commanding and operating here, and I am happy to be returning. We will operate with our full strength and capabilities to ensure the security of the south. Together we will operate and succeed."