Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz dismissed the head of the Israeli military’s Central Command, Major General Avi Bluth, during a live television interview on Sunday, insisting that his control over the military establishment was “absolute”. Israeli media reports described the move as politically motivated.
Speaking to Israel’s right-wing Channel 14 television station, which is particularly popular among the Haredi community, Katz announced that Dado Bar Kalifa would replace Bluth as commander of the Israeli army’s Central Command.
The announcement came after Katz reportedly pressured the Central Command chief during a security meeting to stop issuing administrative orders restricting the movements of extremist Israeli settlers.
According to Israeli Army Radio, Katz also paid a “lengthy visit” to extremist settler Tal Yinon Dardik, whose movement restrictions he ordered lifted last week.
