A dispute has erupted between Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and the country’s military leadership after Katz announced on live television that he had dismissed Major General Avi Bluth, despite the Israeli military stating that the decision was made without the knowledge of Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and that Bluth remains in his position.
The controversy began after Katz said he had removed Bluth, commander of the Israeli military’s Central Command, over his decision to appeal the cancellation of an administrative detention order against an Israeli settler accused of attacking and sexually abusing a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank.
Speaking on Israel’s Channel 14 television, Katz announced that he had decided to replace Bluth with Major General Dado Bar-Khalifa, adding that the move was made without prior coordination with Chief of Staff Zamir.
Reason for the Dismissal
Katz said Bluth was removed because of his handling of the case involving Israeli settler Tal Yinon Dardik, who was accused of taking part in an attack on a village in the occupied West Bank, during which a Palestinian was allegedly assaulted and subjected to sexual abuse.
The defense minister argued that Bluth’s decision to appeal the cancellation of Dardik’s administrative detention was “a mistake,” stating that he wanted “an army that attacks its enemies and protects its settlers.”
Israeli Military Rejects the Decision
The Israeli military responded by saying that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had not been informed in advance of Katz’s announcement to dismiss Major General Bluth.
In a statement, the military said:
“The Chief of Staff has no intention of replacing commanders in key positions during this sensitive period. Should such a decision be made, it will be approved in accordance with established procedures.”
Dispute Over Administrative Detention
The disagreement stems from the case of Tal Yinon Dardik, who, together with a group of Israeli settlers, allegedly raided the village of Khirbet Humsa in the occupied West Bank in March.
According to Israeli media reports, Dardik and the group forced a Palestinian man to remove his clothes, subjected him to sexual abuse, and paraded him through the village.
Last month, Defense Minister Katz visited Dardik in prison. Following the visit, Katz ordered the cancellation of Dardik’s administrative detention, citing “procedural errors,” and instructed Major General Bluth not to renew the detention order.
Bluth, however, appealed the cancellation of the administrative detention, triggering the dispute that has now escalated into a public confrontation between Israel’s Defense Ministry and the military leadership.