Israeli Chief of Staff Helvey may resign by end of December

Channel 12 reported on Thursday evening that the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Occupation Army, Herzi Halevi, indicated a possible date for his resignation from his position, taking responsibility for the failure to anticipate and confront the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation carried out by Hamas on October 7. Halevi had previously announced that he would take responsibility without specifying a date for his resignation.

The channel explained that Halevi indicated in conversations with people close to him that the end of next December is a possible date for his resignation, because by the end of the year, according to the Israeli army’s estimates, the investigations (it is conducting) into the events of October 7 in all branches and formations will end, and then Halevi will be able to sign the investigations in his capacity as Chief of Staff and present them to the public.

In addition, the Israeli occupation army is expected to complete preparations for a comprehensive war in Lebanon by the end of December, according to the Hebrew channel.

She continued that after the investigations and preparations for the war on Lebanon, it is likely that Halevi will feel that the time has come to vacate his position. However, if a major war breaks out in the north, before the mentioned date, it is possible that the Chief of Staff of the IDF will remain in his position to complete it, so as not to transfer the command to a younger and less experienced Chief of Staff.

The Israeli army spokesman denied the channel's report, saying, "The report regarding the expected date of the Chief of Staff's resignation is contrary to the truth and has no basis in truth. The Chief of Staff is currently fully focused on managing the war and leading the Israeli army in fighting our enemies and achieving the war's goals."

In a related context, the commander of Unit 8200 in the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate (Aman), Brigadier General Yossi Sharel, announced earlier today, Thursday, his resignation from his position, 11 months after the failure of October 7. Sharel informed the Chief of Staff of the Occupation Army, Herzi Halevi, and the new head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate, Major General Shlomi Bender, of his decision to resign, acknowledging his failure and bearing responsibility for the Hamas attack and its consequences.

Shariel is the second senior Aman official to resign since the start of the war, following the resignation of former Intelligence Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva. Shariel assumed his position as commander of the unit in February 2021.

The Hebrew website Walla revealed that Shariel intends to resign in the near future, in early September, noting that since the beginning of the war, harsh criticism has been directed at the resigned head of Aman, Aharon Haliva, and the head of the research unit in the division, Amit Sa'ar, in addition to the commander of 8200, who did not warn of the war.

The prestigious unit under his command was severely criticized after its intelligence failure to determine Hamas' intentions and provide a warning about the attack that shook the foundations of the occupying state on October 7. 8200 was also accused of over-reliance on technology to gather intelligence at the expense of traditional means.

(New Arab)