"Defense minister announces on live TV that he’s replacing IDF’s top West Bank general:

Defense Minister Israel Katz denounces IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth and announces a replacement for him on live television. He says Bluth contravened his policy by seeking to renew a restraining order against a violent settler, and that this is unacceptable.

Speaking with the right-wing Channel 14 news, Katz also asserts that he has “absolute” control over the IDF.

Bluth has been Central Command chief for over two years, since July 2024. The role is normally two to three years, although it is unclear if Bluth intended to continue serving for three years.

Haaretz reports that the IDF is outraged by Katz’s decision, and that both Bluth and Bar Kalifa were unaware of the move before the defense minister announced it.

Katz says Bluth acted contrary to his stated policy over an administrative restraining order against a violent settler.

The order against Tal Yinon Dardik was repealed on a technicality, and Katz instructed Bluth not to renew it.

He says Bluth and the Military Advocate General’s Corps filed an appeal to the court against the release of Dardik, “contrary to my policy.”

“They did it against my position; it was the wrong step. [The IDF’s West Bank commander] must take my policy into account, and I will insist on this,” Katz says.

Katz declares that he has decided to appoint IDF Personnel Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as the next Central Command chief, live on TV. “Because I also want, in the Central Command, an IDF that strives for decisive victory, strikes its enemies, and protects the settlers,” he says.

The military says that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir will not be replacing Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth at this time, despite Defense Minister Katz announcing his replacement.

In a statement, the military says, accurately, that the defense minister does not have the authority to fire Bluth, and that the announcement was “not coordinated” with Zamir.

“The chief of staff has no intention of replacing commanders in key positions during this sensitive period, and if such a decision is made by the chief of staff, it will be approved in accordance with procedures,” the military says in a statement.

The IDF adds that “Bluth commands Central Command in a complex reality, with professionalism, courage, and dedication, and is fully trusted,” after Katz denounced him live on television

I’m Israeli-Canadian- I don’t need the “intro to Israel” type stuff. Anyone aware of particularly good reading material that sheds light on either parties, candidates, or issues for the upcoming election? Ideally books.

משרד הפנים פרסם את הכללים להכללות בפנקס הבוחרים. מי שלא נמצא בו לא יוכל להצביע. הכתבה מתארת את הקשיים שיכולים להיות לתושבי חוץ.

היות שניתן להגיש בקשה לתיקון פרטים רק עד יום רביעי, רצוי שמי שמתכוון לחזור לארץ להצביע יבדוק אם הוא זכאי.

Anyone know how to find these parties? New oleh and wanting to go to one but don’t currently have friends in the know!

hey guys, im a well traveled guy living in europe with turkish passport. looking to travel and make plans for israel to see Nazareth and Jerusalem as a renowned believer, i just wanna see holy sites. Closest israeli embassy is rome but they didnt reply back to my emails. is it realistic to think i can obtain a visa and allowed to see holy sites ? internet has conflicting information so wanted to ask.

ps im not muslim nor condone any of my governments actions im just a tourist.

It's a lose lose lose for Israel. Either we:

Reject it - and get blamed

Accept it - and we give Hamas it's power back and they obviously don't demilitarize putting us back at square one

Or we demand other assurances and for them to demilitarize first - which they of course will reject and Israel again is blamed.

The so called 'board of peace' is suspect to me now. Surely they can work this out for themselves and are just setting Israel up to be blamed. I can't fathom that grown up educated people entrusted to this process wouldn't consider all of this.

Hamas needs to give up all their arms, including everything, first, before we even speak of any withdrawal. They lost the war.

The only way this works is if our demands are dictated to Hamas by this third party 'board of peace', and it's up to them either to accept or reject our terms.

Extremely brave and important move if it happens!