Mofaz ends Chief of Staff's tenure

TEL AVIV - For the first time in the history of the Israel Defense Forces, the Chief of Staff’s request to extend his term in office by another year has been turned down by the defense minister.

Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Moshe Yaalon is due to be released from his duties in July. His release from the army will coincide with the slated pullout from the Gaza Strip.

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz met with Yaalon Wednesday evening and informed him of his decision not to extend his term in office.

Yaalon had asked to extend his term by the customary fourth year and even said he would resign his position earlier than expected if the request was not granted.

Sources in the defense establishment said recently that Yaalon’s term was likely to be extended in light of his good work, and also because of the inconvenience of replacing him at the time of the slated withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Yaalon heads the organization charged with planning the slated Gaza pullout, and sources in the defense establishment believed he would head the army at the time of withdrawal.

Chief of the Shin Bet security services Avi Dichter will also end his duties in May of this year, when he will be replaced by Yuval Diskin. Both positions will be filled to coincide with the pullout from Gaza.

Mofaz’s decision officially launched the bid for the vacant IDF chief of staff position, and an announcement on the new IDF head is expected within the next few weeks.

The two front-runners for the job are former Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Gabi Ashkenazi, and current Deputy Chief of Staff and former Israel Air Force Commander Major General Dan Chalutz.