Israeli defence minister, military chief clash over army appointments: Report
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has accused Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir of approving promotions in the military “without prior coordination and agreement”, in the latest sign of tension between the country’s political and military leadership, according to the Times of Israel.
Katz made the accusation after the list of promoted officers were leaked by the press, and said in a statement that he had “no intention of discussing or approving any of the appointments or names” in the document.
The Israeli military responded by publishing the list of promotions, saying Zamir is “the sole authority under regulations for appointing commanders at the rank of colonel and above” and that the staffing discussion “was scheduled in advance, in accordance with regulations”.
Among those listed to be promoted is Barak Hiram, set to become head of the Israeli military’s Operations Division.
According to Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, Hiram drew controversy for ordering tank and shell fire on a house in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, 2023, where 13 Israeli captives were held. He was later cleared by an investigation that said he acted “professionally in the face of a difficult and complex reality”.
Israeli opposition chief backs call for general strike in support of Gaza captives
Yair Lapid says even supporters of the current government should take part in the strike starting on Sunday.
“Strike out of solidarity. Strike because the families have asked, and that’s reason enough. Strike because no one has a monopoly on emotion, on mutual responsibility, on Jewish values,” he said on X.
Lapid’s post followed a call on Sunday by about 20 parents of captives still held in Gaza for a strike.
On Monday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the main group representing the captives’ relatives, backed the idea.
The group accused the government of sacrificing the captives who remain in Gaza “on the altar of an endless, aimless war”.
Israeli court orders Netanyahu to testify three times weekly in corruption case
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be required to testify three times a week in his corruption trial starting in November, judges overseeing the case have ruled, according to Israeli media.
The Jerusalem District Court said there will be four hearings per week from November, with Netanyahu testifying in three of them until the end of his cross-examination. The trial, which began in 2020, has faced repeated delays.
The court is currently on recess, with the next hearings scheduled for September.
Judges also ordered an examination of moving future hearings to a court in Beit Shemesh instead of the Tel Aviv District Court, where proceedings have been held so far.
The Jerusalem District Court building cannot host the hearings during the war as it lacks an adequate bomb shelter.
Prosecutors have accused Netanyahu of using the Gaza war to shield himself from proceedings, citing the conflict as a reason for postponements. Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing in the corruption case.
