Netanyahu, Ya'alon extend tenure of IDF chief Gantz

Gantz to serve 4th year as IDF chief; Netanyahu praises success in face of "most complicated security challenges Israel has known."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Ya'alon, Netanyahu and Gantz 370 (photo credit: GPO)
Ya'alon, Netanyahu and Gantz 370
(photo credit: GPO)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon announced Thursday that they were extending IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz's tenure by one year, marking a total of four years that he will be on the job.
The extension was scheduled to be presented for government approval at next Sunday's cabinet meeting.
Netanyahu informed the 54-year-old Gantz of the decision on Wednesday evening, following consultations with Ya'alon.
"In the past three years, Chief of Staff Gantz has led the IDF with impressive success in the face of the most complicated security challenges that the State of Israel has ever known," Netanyahu stated.
Ya'alon also praised Gantz for his work, saying he had led the IDF to achievements, "most of which I cannot detail, but they enable Israel's citizens to continue their daily routines and enable Israel to continue to flourish and prosper."
Gantz thanked Netanyahu and Ya'alon for their trust saying, "I'm sure the close cooperation between the IDF, prime minister and defense minister will becoming even tighter in the face of the security challenges."
Gantz began his tenure as IDF chief of staff in February 2011 after Yoav Galant, who was slated for the position, was involved in questionable land dealings in his moshav, Amikam.