TEL AVIV — Maj. Gen. Hidai Zilberman assumed leadership of the Israel Defense Forces’ Planning Directorate on Sunday, replacing Vice Adm. Eyal Harel after his two-year tenure.
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Zilberman, who recently concluded a four-and-a-half-year term as Israel’s defense attaché in Washington, previously served as IDF spokesperson. No permanent replacement has been named for the U.S. post, with a brigadier general filling the role on an interim basis.
Harel is slated to become the next Navy commander, though the appointment awaits final approval amid delays in senior military promotions.
During the handover ceremony at IDF headquarters, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir emphasized the ongoing threats facing Israel, declaring that the military would strike enemies “wherever required, on near and distant fronts alike” — a remark widely interpreted as alluding to potential future operations against Iran.
“At the center of the longest and most complex war in Israel’s history stands the campaign against Iran,” Zamir said. “Iran is the one that financed and armed the ring of strangulation around Israel and stood behind the plans for its destruction.”
In his address, Zamir also appeared to subtly criticize Defense Minister Israel Katz over delays in approving senior appointments, including Harel’s expected promotion.
“Eyal, you are arriving mature and ready to command the Navy and to lead it in the coming years, as I hope will be finalized in the very near future,” Zamir said of Harel.
The comments come amid reported tensions between Zamir and Katz regarding promotions and other military decisions.