• 16/5/2013 17:35

    Egyptian fire hits container in Bnei Netzarim

    An Egyptian force carried out fire with the purpose of foiling smuggling efforts at the Israeli-Egyptian border. A bullet hit a container in the town of Bnei Netzarim, without any casualties. (Or Heller)
  • 16/5/2013 10:00

    Egypt: Soldiers, policemen abducted in Sinai

    Four soldiers and two policemen from Egypt's security forces who were driving in a minibus on the way to Cairo were abducted by armed men east of El Arish. (Or Heller)

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Next IAF Commander: Major General Amir Eshel

As previously reported by IsraelDefense, Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel is expected to replace Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan as the next IAF commander
26/1/2012
Next IAF Commander: Major General Amir Eshel

The next commander of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) will likely be Major General Amir Eshel.

This morning, Israel Hayom reported that Minister of Defense Ehud Barak is expected to confirm Eshel’s appointment within the next week.

Maj. Gen. Eshel, who is serving as the Head of the IDF’s Planning Branch (Agat), is the favored candidate of Israel's Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz.

According to various publications, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Ehud Barak were interested in appointing Netanyahu’s Military Secretary, Maj. Gen. Yohanan Locker, to the position.

For some time Eshel, a combat pilot, was considered “destined” to take over the role. In the past, Locker was not a realistic candidate partly because he was a navigator in his aerial qualification (a less prestigious role than a pilot, according to IAF concepts).

According to Israel Hayom, if Eshel is appointed Air Force Commander, Chief of Staff Gantz may offer the Head of the Planning branch position, which is responsible for the strategic field and work plans in the IDF, to Major General Yohanan Locker.