In reversal, Attorney-General approves appointment of Maj.-Gen. Gadi Eizenkot to the position of deputy chief of staff of the IDF.
By YONAH JEREMY BOB
Attorney- General Yehuda Weinstein on Sunday approved the appointment of Maj.-Gen. Gadi Eizenkot to the position of deputy chief of staff of the IDF.The appointment was made recently by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, contradicting instructions by Weinstein to all ministries to hold off on major new appointments during election season and wait until a new government is formed.Following the appointment’s announcement, the Legal Forum for Israel filed a petition with the High Court of Justice to enforce Weinstein’s directive and suspend the appointment, at least until after elections.Weinstein met with Barak and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.- Gen. Benny Ganz on Thursday to give them a hearing on the issue as to why the appointment should be approved.Weinstein did not elaborate on the basis for his decision other than to say than it was based on the “balance of the circumstances” and that a full explanation would be given in the state’s response to the High Court petition.The state’s response is due on Tuesday.