JERUSALEM, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- After weeks of speculation, Defense Minister Ehud Barak has named Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant Israel's next chief of staff.
Galant's appointment ended weeks of rumors concerning Israel's 20th chief of staff, after the race was thrown into doubt over a scandal involving a forged document circulated among the army's top echelon.
The document accused Galant of allegedly attempting to smear rivals and high-ranking officers to improve his chances of being appointed lead the army.
Israeli police launched an investigation into the affair, but cleared the 52-year-old Galant and other contenders in the race, as well as outgoing chief of staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi.
Galant will replace Ashkenazi in February when his term ends.
Barak asked the Cabinet to approve the appointment at its next meeting, Aug. 29.
The defense minister met with the other contenders -- Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Benny Gantz, head of the Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, head of the Central Command Maj.-Gen. Avi Mizrachi and the IDF's attache in Washington, Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni -- and asked them to remain in the army.
