Maj.-Gen. Aviv Kochachavi, who was chosen to become the new IDF chief of staff, briefs US military representative Joseph F. Dunford. (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
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In an official press release on Friday, Minister of Defense Avigdor Liberman announced that he chose Aviv Kochavi to become the new IDF chief of staff.
“Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has reached the decision that Maj. Gen. Kochavi is the most suitable and most experienced candidate to serve as chief of staff. Maj. Gen. Kochavi has outstanding leadership, courage, creativity and command capabilities,” the statement read.
“The unique combination of the many positions he held in the IDF, his proven command capabilities during times of emergency, the great esteem he enjoys in the IDF and the great success with which he has carried out missions over the years make him the most suitable for leading the IDF in the coming years.”
The selection process, which is based on recommendations by the military advocate general, consisted of six stages with Liberman consulting with Eisenkot and former senior officials such as prime ministers, defense ministers, chiefs of staff and others.
Kochavi, a charismatic paratroop officer, was one of four front-runners for the position which also included Maj.-Gen. Yair Golan, Maj.-Gen. Nitzan Alon and Maj.-Gen. Eyal Zamir.
His name will be brought before the Goldberg Committee on Sunday and, subject to its approval, the defense minister will present his appointment to the cabinet.
Born in 1964, Kochavi enlisted in the Paratroopers Brigade in 1982 and has served in multiple command roles throughout his career.
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He served as Eastern Division commander of the Lebanon Liaison Unit (1998-1999) and commander of the Paratrooper Brigade (2001-2003), where he commanded troops against Palestinian terrorists in the West Bank during the Second Intifada. He also commanded the IDF’s elite Airborne Division before serving as commander of the Gaza Division from 2004 to 2006.
He also held several key positions in the General Staff, commanding the Operations Division, Head of Military Intelligence (2010-2014), head of the Northern Command and then his current position as deputy chief of staff.
Kochavi has a BA in philosophy from the Hebrew University, a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University and a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.
Current IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot is set to step down in less than four months, after serving close to four years as the IDF’s top officer.
Upon his return from Oman on Friday Netanyahu stated that he is of the opinion that Kochavi is “the worthy candidate to be the next IDF chief of staff.”
Anna Ahronheim contributed to this report.
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