Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday rejected the claim that he called for IDF Central Command chief Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth's dismissal, calling the argument an outright lie that is part of a political campaign directed against the government.
During a live Sunday night interview with Channel 14’s The Patriots, Katz said that, "when one of the participants called to 'dismiss the general [Bluth],' I responded immediately and clearly: 'No.' The exchange was recorded on camera and is fully documented," he said.
Katz said the appointment process for IDF Manpower Directorate Chief Maj.-Gen. Dado Bar Khalifa to Central Command commander had already been underway for months; "therefore, the attempt to suggest that any decision was made as a result of that interview does not stand up to the facts."
"This is not a genuine controversy but rather a media attempt to divert attention from the real question: What would happen if Yair Golan, who has already threatened to dismiss [Shin Bet chief] David Zini, were to become defense minister in a government led by Gadi Eisenkot?"
"In such a scenario, there is concern that figures associated with the old "conceptzia" would once again be appointed, something that could harm the settlement enterprise and Israel's security," Katz said. "That did not happen under my watch, and it will not happen."
Accuse Bluth of failing in his position, focusing on settlers as the enemy
Despite Katz’s subsequent denial that he had announced Bluth’s dismissal, Otzma Yehudit MK Limor Son Har-Melech stood by her support for the move, congratulating the defense minister on what she called his “decision to dismiss” Bluth.
Son Har-Melech accused Bluth of failing in his position, arguing that rather than devoting his forces to fighting terrorism, he had treated hilltop youth and “settlement pioneers” as the enemy and repeatedly persecuted settlers while “Arab terrorism” intensified. She further accused him of pursuing policies that contradicted those set by the elected government, saying that a regional commander’s role was to implement policy, not determine it.
“Anyone who wants to determine the State of Israel’s security policy is welcome to take off his uniform and run for the Knesset,” she said. “As long as he serves in the IDF, he is bound by government policy, not by his personal worldview.”
Katz accuses Bluth of being overly harsh to settler violence, neglecting terrorism
During the interview with Channel 14, Katz explained that his decision was made due to Bluth’s allegedly unsatisfactory handling of extremist settler violence in the West Bank. He accused Bluth of being overly harsh in efforts to combat Israeli settler violence while neglecting the fight against Palestinian terrorism from the West Bank.
According to the IDF, Katz’s statement was not coordinated with IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. The military stated that Zamir does not intend to remove Bluth from his position at this time and that when any such decision is made, it will require Zamir's approval in accordance with the required protocols.
Katz’s office released a statement claiming that as early as the end of April, Zamir recommended Katz appoint Bar Khalifa as the Commander of the IDF’s Central Command.
According to the statement, Katz interviewed Bar Khalifa in June and deemed him a suitable candidate to take over the position when the time comes to appoint a new Central Command head.
Goldie Katz contributed to this report.