HERZLIYA, Israel, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Israel's prime minister and defense minister Monday designated a major general with extensive experience in the north as the next chief of general staff.
The designated commander, Gabi Ashkenazi, 52, is to replace Lt. Gen. Dani Halutz, who resigned last week following scathing criticism of the army's performance during last year's war in Lebanon.
Ashkenazi, who started his military career in the northern Golani infantry brigade, has spent much of his time in that area. Some of it was across the Lebanese border as head of the Israeli Liaison unit to southern Lebanon and the Southern Lebanese Army. He later headed the Northern Command before becoming deputy chief of general staff.
Ashkenazi resigned from the army in 2005 after air force Maj. Gen. Dani Halutz became chief of general staff. He has however maintained close tabs on the army, and in the past six months has been the defense ministry's director-general. Part of his job was to re-equip the military.
His selection came as no surprise. In 2005, Ashkenazi and Halutz competed for the top job.
Ashkenazi emerged from the war without noticeable scars since he was not in active service when it occurred and probably cannot be blamed for the way it was managed.
However, Ashkeanzi probably shared responsibility for equipment shortages and insufficient training of the troops, observers say.
It is not clear when he will take over. The High Court of Justice is looking into a request to postpone Ashkenazi's appointment until an inquiry into the war is completed.
