Israel's new army chief Herzi Halevi forced to navigate multiple bosses, far-right whims

Israel's incoming IDF Chief of Staff Hezri Halevi will have to deal with the fallout from the whims of a new government run by Israel’s most right-wing, regressive and ultra-nationalist forces.
MAYA ALLERUZZO/AFP via Getty Images
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Defense Minister Yoav Galant (2nd R) promote new IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi during his appointment ceremony attended by his wife Sharon (R) in Jerusalem, on Jan. 16, 2023. - MAYA ALLERUZZO/AFP via Getty Images
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Ben Caspit
@BenCaspit

Lt. Gen. Herzl Halevi took over as Israel’s army new chief of staff Monday, replacing Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, who had served in the position since 2019. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant placed the insignia on the the incoming IDF chief's shoulders together. But after the festive ceremony, Halevi will have to face a multitude of challenges in the coming months, not just on Israel’s frontiers but also within the country.

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