Benny Gantz to take over as 20th chief of General Staff

Incoming IDF chief will first receive new rank at a ceremony in the Prime Minister's Office in J'lem and will then arrive at the Kirya in Tel Aviv.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, YAAKOV KATZ, HERB KEINON
BennyGantz187 (photo credit: IDF Spokesperson)
BennyGantz187
(photo credit: IDF Spokesperson)
Maj.-Gen. Benny Gantz will take over as the 20th IDF Chief of General Staff on Monday.  In a series of events marking his new role Gantz will first receive his new rank at a ceremony in the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem.  Afterwhich he will arrive at the Kirya in Tel Aviv where the traditional ceremony will be held and he will review the honor guard.
On Sunday night a farewell event for the outgoing IDF Chief, held at Tel Aviv University, was attended by the top IDF commanders as well as senior politicians such as Netanyahu, Peres and Barak.
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In his speech, Ashkenazi said the IDF faces serious challenges over the coming years, though he believed Gantz would be an “excellent chief of staff, ethical and full of accomplishments and experience."
He continued to say ”that despite all the friends and colleagues who were present at the event, he was disappointed not to see St.-Sgt. Gilad Schalit, who is in Hamas captivity, in the crowd.
“I prayed and hoped to see Gilad Schalit, whose dear parents Aviva and Noam I met for painful discussions,” Ashkenazi said.
Earlier Sunday the cabinet unanimously approved the appointment of Maj.-Gen. Benny Gantz as the country's next chief of General Staff, putting to end a months-long saga that saw the appointment, and then rescinding of the decision to appoint Maj.-Gen Yoav Galant for that post.
Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that Gantz was an "excellent officer and experienced commander."