Chief of the General Staff (Israel)

{{Short description|Head of the Israel Defense Forces}} {{pp|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox official post | post = Chief | body = the General Staff | native_name = {{Nobold|{{Script/Hebrew|ראש המטה הכללי}}}} | insignia = Armoiries de l'état major de tsahal.svg | insigniasize = | insigniacaption = | insigniaalt = | flag = Flag of IDF Chief of Staff.svg | flagsize = | flagalt = | flagborder = | flagcaption = Flag of the Chief of the General Staff | image = Eyal Zamir-RAV ALUF.jpg | imagesize = | alt = | imagecaption = | incumbent = Rav Aluf Eyal Zamir | acting = | incumbentsince = 5 March 2025 | department = Ministry of Defense | style = | type = | status = | abbreviation = Ramatkal | member_of = General Staff | reports_to = Minister of Defense Government of Israel | residence = | seat = Rabin Camp, HaKirya, Tel Aviv | nominator = Minister of Defense | appointer = Cabinet of Israel | appointer_qualified = | termlength = 3 years; | termlength_qualified = can be extended by 1 year | constituting_instrument = | precursor = | formation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1947|6|1}} | first = Rav Aluf Yaakov Dori | last = | abolished = | succession = | unofficial_names = | deputy = Deputy Chief | salary = | website = | footnotes = }}

The '''Chief of the General Staff''' ({{Langx|he|רֹאשׁ הַמַּטֶּה הַכְּלָלִי|Rosh hamateh haklali}}, abbreviated '''Ramatkal''' — {{Script/Hebrew|רמטכ"ל}}) is the professional head of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The current Chief of the General Staff is Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, having taken office on 5 March 2025.

The Chief of the General Staff is nominated by the government on advice of the Minister of Defense, and serves a three-year term, extendable by one year only.

At any given time, the Chief of the General Staff is the only active officer holding the IDF's highest rank, ''rav aluf'' ({{Script/Hebrew|רַב־אַלּוּף}}), which is usually translated into English as lieutenant general, a three-star rank. The only exception to this rule occurred during the Yom Kippur War, when former Chief of the General Staff Haim Bar-Lev, who was a cabinet member at the outbreak of and during the war, was brought out of retirement and installed as chief of Southern Command.<ref name="bar-lev">{{Cite web|url=https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-chaim-bar-lev-1968-1972/|access-date=2021-04-01|website=www.idf.il|title=Lt. Gen. Chaim Bar Lev (1968-1972)|archive-date=8 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608185806/https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/|url-status=live}}</ref> For a brief period, he and Chief of the General Staff David Elazar were both in active service with the rank of ''rav aluf''.

== History == The role of the Chief of the General Staff began with the Haganah organization, where it was named after the head of the general staff of the Haganah. With the establishment of the IDF, the Chief of Defense and the Chief of Staff, headed by Yaakov Dori, were converted to head the IDF.<ref name="dori">{{Cite web |title=Lt. Gen. Yaacov Dori (1948-1949) |url=https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-yaacov-dori-1948-1949/ |access-date=2021-04-01 |website=Israel Defense Forces |archive-date=8 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608185806/https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The chief of the general staff is officially appointed for a three-year term, which can be extended for another year. An exception was Rafael Eitan, whose term was extended twice, and he served a total of five years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1982-01-04 |title=Cabinet Extends Eitan's Item; Appoints Mandelbaum As the Governor of the Bank of Israel |url=https://www.jta.org/1982/01/04/archive/cabinet-extends-eitans-item-appoints-mandelbaum-as-the-governor-of-the-bank-of-israel |access-date=2021-04-01 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=en-US |archive-date=9 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009000923/https://www.jta.org/archive/cabinet-extends-eitans-item-appoints-mandelbaum-as-the-governor-of-the-bank-of-israel |url-status=live }}</ref> On the other hand, there were several chiefs of staff who did not complete their full term: Yigal Yadin resigned amid disagreements over the IDF budget,<ref name="yadin">{{Cite web |title=Lt. Gen. Yigal Yadin (1949-1952) |url=https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-yigal-yadin-1949-1952 |access-date=2021-04-01 |website=Israel Defense Forces |archive-date=8 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608185806/https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Mordechai Maklef served for only one year at his request,<ref name="maklef">{{Cite web |title=Lt. Gen. Mordechai Maklef (1952-1953) |url=https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-mordechai-maklef-1952-1953/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224101327/https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-mordechai-maklef-1952-1953/ |archive-date=2021-12-24 |access-date=2021-04-01 |website=Israel Defense Forces}}</ref> David Elazar was forced to resign following the recommendations of the Agranat Commission investigating the Yom Kippur War,<ref name="elazar">{{Cite web |title=Lt. Gen. David Elazar (1972-1974) |url=https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-david-elazar-1972-1974/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202234133/https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-david-elazar-1972-1974/ |archive-date=2020-02-02 |access-date=2021-04-01 |website=Israel Defense Forces}}</ref> and Dan Halutz resigned due to criticism of the Second Lebanon War.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Greenberg|first=Hanan|date=2007-01-16|title=IDF Chief Halutz resigns|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3353269,00.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-01|website=Ynetnews|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070118175354/http://www.ynetnews.com:80/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-3353269%2C00.html |archive-date=2007-01-18 }}</ref> Also, two chiefs of staff have given up part of their tenure extension: Amnon Lipkin-Shahak wanted to end his term in the middle of the fourth year, due to his desire to move into politics and run for prime minister. Haim Laskov asked not to serve a fourth year due to his disagreements with Shimon Peres.{{cn|date=May 2021}}

In 2005, Ariel Sharon and Shaul Mofaz did not extend Moshe Ya'alon's term to a fourth year,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Greenberg|first=Hanan|date=2005-02-15|title=Mofaz ends Chief of Staff's tenure|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3046479,00.html|access-date=2021-04-01|website=Ynetnews|language=en|archive-date=2 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702083338/https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3046479,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> during which he was interpreted as a dismissal in light of Ya'alon's opposition to the disengagement plan. In order to prevent such problems in the future, and as was done for other positions such as that of the President of the State, Defense Minister Amir Peretz appointed Major General Gabi Ashkenazi in 2007 for a period of four years, thus removing the uncertainty regarding the addition of the fourth year. Ashkenazi raised the issue of extending his term to a fifth year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ginsburg |first=Mitch |date=2012-03-04 |title=Timeline of a high-ranking feud |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-timeline-of-a-feud/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306014241/http://www.timesofisrael.com:80/the-timeline-of-a-feud/ |archive-date=2012-03-06 |access-date=2021-09-17 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US}}</ref>

At the end of his term, the Chief of the General Staff (like other senior members of the Israeli defense establishment) has a cooling-off period of three years before he can be elected a Member of the Knesset, be appointed a Minister in the Government or be elected Prime Minister.{{cn|date=May 2021}}

==Legal position== The position of ''ramatkal'' is defined in the ''Basic Law: The Military'' (1976), clause three:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Basic Law: The Military|url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/laws/special/eng/basic11_eng.htm|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-01|website=Knesset|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030423091643/http://www.knesset.gov.il:80/laws/special/eng/basic11_eng.htm |archive-date=2003-04-23 }}</ref>

*The supreme command rank in the military is that of the Chief of the General Staff *The Chief of the General Staff is to be placed under the authority of the government and subordinate to the Defense Minister *The Chief of the General Staff is to be appointed by the government, according to the recommendation of the Defense Minister

The Chief of the General Staff is formally appointed once every three years, with the government often extending the term to four years, and in one occasion, even five.

==Significance== Given the importance of the IDF in Israeli society, the Chief of the General Staff is an important public figure in Israel. On appointment of a new Chief of the General Staff, mass-circulation papers such as ''Yedioth Ahronoth'' and ''Israel Hayom'' customarily provide their readers with large-scale portrait photos of the new Chief. Former Chiefs of the General Staff often parlay the prominence of their position into political life, and sometimes the business world.{{cn|date=May 2021}} Two Chiefs of the General Staff (Yitzhak Rabin and Ehud Barak) have become Prime Minister of Israel<ref name="rabin">{{Cite web |title=Lt. Gen. Yitzhak Rabin (1964-1968) |url=https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-yitzhak-rabin-1964-1968/ |access-date=2021-04-01 |website=Israel Defence Forces |archive-date=18 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418142347/https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-yitzhak-rabin-1964-1968/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="barak">{{Cite web |title=Lt. Gen. Ehud Barak (1991-1995) |url=https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-ehud-barak-1991-1995/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813091201/https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-ehud-barak-1991-1995/ |archive-date=2020-08-13 |access-date=2021-04-01 |website=Israel Defence Forces}}</ref> and eleven others (Yigael Yadin, Moshe Dayan, Tzvi Tzur, Haim Bar-Lev, Mordechai Gur, Rafael Eitan, Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, Shaul Mofaz, Moshe Ya'alon, Gabi Ashkenazi, and Benny Gantz) have served in the Knesset.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keinon |first=Herb |date=6 August 2020 |title=The virtues and pitfalls of former IDF chiefs of staff entering politics |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/the-virtues-and-pitfalls-of-former-idf-chiefs-of-staff-entering-politics-637768 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807085530/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/the-virtues-and-pitfalls-of-former-idf-chiefs-of-staff-entering-politics-637768 |archive-date=2020-08-07 |access-date=2021-04-01 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}}</ref> Of these, only Tzur did not get appointed to the Cabinet.

Six former Chiefs of the General Staff (Dayan, Rabin, Barak, Mofaz, Ya'alon, and Gantz) held the position of Defense Minister, widely considered to be one of the most powerful ministerial posts in the country and the immediate civilian superior of the Chief of the General Staff.{{cn|date=May 2021}} Moshe Dayan served also as Foreign Minister. Soon after his discharge, Dan Halutz became the CEO of a car importer.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hazani |first=Golan |date=2007-10-10 |title=Dan Halutz named CEO of Kamor Motors |language=en |website=Ynetnews |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3458319,00.html |url-status=live |access-date=2021-04-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012024609/http://www.ynetnews.com:80/articles/0,7340,L-3458319,00.html |archive-date=2007-10-12}}</ref> Ehud Barak took a hiatus from politics twice after defeats for re-election and pursued international business ventures.{{cn|date=May 2021}}

==List of Chiefs of the General Staff== The Chiefs of the General Staff have been: {{Officeholder table start | showorder = y | showimage = y | image_title = Portrait | officeholder_title = Chief of the General Staff | showtermlenght = y | showparty = n | showdefencebranch = n | showref = y }} {{Officeholder table | order = 1 | image = Yaakov Dori2.jpg | officeholder = Yaakov Dori | officeholder_sort = Dori, Yaakov | born_year = 1899 | died_year = 1973 | term_start = 1 June 1947 | term_end = 9 November 1949 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1947|06|01|1949|11|09}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs">{{cite web |title=Past Chiefs of Staff |url=https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/ |website=idf.il |access-date=11 February 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727224504/https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="dori" /> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 2 | image = Yigael Yadin, Chief of General Staff.jpg | officeholder = Yigael Yadin | officeholder_sort = Yadin, Yigael | born_year = 1917 | died_year = 1984 | term_start = 9 November 1949 | term_end = 7 December 1952 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1949|11|09|1952|12|07}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/><ref name="yadin" /> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 3 | image = Mordechai Maklef 1952.jpg | officeholder = Mordechai Maklef | officeholder_sort = Maklef, Mordechai | born_year = 1920 | died_year = 1978 | term_start = 7 December 1952 | term_end = 6 December 1953 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1952|12|07|1953|12|06}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/><ref name="maklef" /> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 4 | image = Moshe Dayan, Chief of General Staff.jpg | officeholder = Moshe Dayan | officeholder_sort = Dayan, Moshe | born_year = 1915 | died_year = 1981 | term_start = 6 December 1953 | term_end = 29 January 1958 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1953|12|06|1958|01|29}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-moshe-dayan-1953-1958/|access-date=2021-04-01|website=www.idf.il|title=Lt. Gen. Moshe Dayan (1953-1958)|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308124711/https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-moshe-dayan-1953-1958/|url-status=live}}</ref> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 5 | image = Haim Laskov 1958.jpg | officeholder = Haim Laskov | officeholder_sort = Laskov, Haim | born_year = 1919 | died_year = 1982 | term_start = 29 January 1958 | term_end = 1 January 1961 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1958|01|29|1961|01|01}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-haim-laskov-1958-1961/|access-date=2021-04-01|website=www.idf.il|title=Lt. Gen. Haim Laskov (1958-1961)|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301004825/https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-haim-laskov-1958-1961/|url-status=live}}</ref> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 6 | image = Tzvi Tzur.jpg | officeholder = Tzvi Tzur | officeholder_sort = Tzur, Tzvi | born_year = 1923 | died_year = 2004 | term_start = 1 January 1961 | term_end = 1 January 1964 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1961|01|01|1964|01|01}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-tzvi-tzur-1961-1963/|access-date=2021-04-01|website=www.idf.il|title=Lt. Gen. Tzvi Tzur (1961-1963)|archive-date=2 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202023858/https://www.idf.il/en/minisites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-tzvi-tzur-1961-1963/|url-status=live}}</ref> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 7 | image = הרמטכ"ל רבין. 003994467.jpg | officeholder = Yitzhak Rabin | officeholder_sort = Rabin, Yitzhak | born_year = 1922 | died_year = 1995 | term_start = 1 January 1964 | term_end = 1 January 1968 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1964|01|01|1968|01|01}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/><ref name="rabin" /> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 8 | image = Haim Bar-Lev, Chief of General Staff.jpg | officeholder = Haim Bar-Lev | officeholder_sort = Bar-Lev, Haim | born_year = 1924 | died_year = 1994 | term_start = 1 January 1968 | term_end = 1 January 1972 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1968|01|01|1972|01|01}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/><ref name="bar-lev" /> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 9 | image = David Elazar (Dado).jpg | officeholder = David Elazar | officeholder_sort = Elazar, David | born_year = 1925 | died_year = 1976 | term_start = 1 January 1972 | term_end = 3 April 1974 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1972|01|01|1974|04|03}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/><ref name="elazar" /> }} {{Officeholder table | order = – | image = Defence Minister Moshe Dayan held a press conferencein Tel Aviv (FL45770168).jpg | officeholder = Yitzhak Hofi | officeholder_sort = Hofi, Yitzhak | born_year = 1927 | died_year = 2014 | term_start = 3 April 1974 | term_end = 16 April 1974 | acting = y | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1974|04|03|1974|04|16}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 10 | image = Mordechai Gur, Chief of General Staff (cropped).jpg | officeholder = Mordechai Gur | officeholder_sort = Gur, Mordechai | born_year = 1930 | died_year = 1995 | term_start = 16 April 1974 | term_end = 16 April 1978 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1974|04|16|1978|04|16}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 11 | image = Rafael Eitan, Chief of General Staff.jpg | officeholder = Rafael Eitan | officeholder_sort = Eitan, Rafael | born_year = 1929 | died_year = 2004 | term_start = 16 April 1978 | term_end = 19 April 1983 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1978|04|16|1983|04|19}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 12 | image = Moshe Levi, Chief of General Staff.jpg | officeholder = Moshe Levi | officeholder_sort = Levi, Moshe | born_year = 1936 | died_year = 2008 | term_start = 19 April 1983 | term_end = 19 April 1987 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1983|04|19|1987|04|19}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 13 | image = Dan Shomron, Chief of General Staff.jpg | officeholder = Dan Shomron | officeholder_sort = Shomron, Dan | born_year = 1937 | died_year = 2008 | term_start = 19 April 1987 | term_end = 1 April 1991 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1987|04|19|1991|04|01}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 14 | image = Ehud Barak, Chief of General Staff.jpg | officeholder = Ehud Barak | officeholder_sort = Barak, Ehud | born_year = 1942 | died_year = | term_start = 1 April 1991 | term_end = 1 January 1995 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1991|04|01|1995|01|01}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/><ref name="barak" /> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 15 | image = Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, Chief of General Staff.jpg | officeholder = Amnon Lipkin-Shahak | officeholder_sort = Lipkin-Shahak, Amnon | born_year = 1944 | died_year = 2012 | term_start = 1 January 1995 | term_end = 9 July 1998 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1995|01|01|1998|07|09}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 16 | image = Shaul Mofaz, Chief of General Staff.jpg | officeholder = Shaul Mofaz | officeholder_sort = Mofaz, Shaul | born_year = 1948 | died_year = | term_start = 9 July 1998 | term_end = 9 July 2002 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|1998|07|09|2002|07|09}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 17 | image = Moshe «Bogie» Yaalon, Chief of General Staff.jpg | officeholder = Moshe Ya'alon | officeholder_sort = Ya'alon, Moshe | born_year = 1950 | died_year = | term_start = 9 July 2002 | term_end = 1 June 2005 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2002|07|09|2005|06|01}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 18 | image = Dan Halutz, Chief of General Staff.jpg | officeholder = Dan Halutz | officeholder_sort = Halutz, Dan | born_year = 1948 | died_year = | term_start = 1 June 2005 | term_end = 14 February 2007 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2005|06|01|2007|02|14}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 19 | image = Gabi Ashkenazi, Chief of General Staff.jpg | officeholder = Gabi Ashkenazi | officeholder_sort = Ashkenazi, Gabi | born_year = 1954 | died_year = | term_start = 14 February 2007 | term_end = 14 February 2011 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2007|02|14|2011|02|14}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 20 | image = Benny Gantz, Chief of General Staff.jpg | officeholder = Benny Gantz | officeholder_sort = Gantz, Benny | born_year = 1959 | died_year = | term_start = 14 February 2011 | term_end = 16 February 2015 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2011|02|14|2015|02|16}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/><ref name=idfSpokespersonCOS>{{cite web|title=Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz Appointed 20th IDF Chief of the General Staff|url=http://idfspokesperson.com/2011/02/14/lt-gen-benny-gantz-appointed-20th-idf-chief-of-the-general-staff/|publisher=Israel Defense Forces|access-date=14 February 2011|date=14 February 2011|archive-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017225800/http://idfspokesperson.com/2011/02/14/lt-gen-benny-gantz-appointed-20th-idf-chief-of-the-general-staff/|url-status=live}}</ref> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 21 | image = Gadi Eizenkot. I.jpg | officeholder = Gadi Eizenkot | officeholder_sort = Eizenkot, Gadi | born_year = 1960 | died_year = | term_start = 16 February 2015 | term_end = 15 January 2019 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2015|02|16|2019|01|15}} | ref = <ref name="past-chiefs"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Ginsburg|first1=Mitch|title=Maj. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot to be named 21st commander of IDF|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/maj-gen-gadi-eizenkot-to-be-named-21st-commander-of-idf/|website=The Times of Israel|date=28 November 2014 |access-date=28 November 2014|archive-date=27 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127040823/http://www.timesofisrael.com/maj-gen-gadi-eizenkot-to-be-named-21st-commander-of-idf/|url-status=live}}</ref> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 22 | image = Avivcoch.jpeg | officeholder = Aviv Kohavi | officeholder_sort = Kohavi, Aviv | born_year = 1964 | died_year = | term_start = 15 January 2019 | term_end = 16 January 2023 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2019|01|15|2023|01|16}} | ref = <ref>{{Cite web|title=Outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot - A look back|url=https://www.jpost.com/magazine/changing-of-the-guard-576861|access-date=2021-04-01|website=The Jerusalem Post|date=11 January 2019|language=en-US|archive-date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204040303/https://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Changing-of-the-Guard-576861|url-status=live}}</ref> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 23 | image = Herzi Halevi RAV ALUF.jpg | officeholder = Herzi Halevi | officeholder_sort = Halevi, Herzi | born_year = 1967 | died_year = | term_start = 16 January 2023 | term_end = 5 March 2025 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2023|01|16|2025|03|05}} | ref = <ref>{{Cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |date=16 January 2023 |title=Herzi Halevi formally takes over as chief of staff, vows to keep politics out of IDF |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/herzi-halevi-becomes-idfs-23rd-chief-of-staff-in-handover-ceremony/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |archive-date=10 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610100648/https://www.timesofisrael.com/herzi-halevi-becomes-idfs-23rd-chief-of-staff-in-handover-ceremony/ |url-status=live }}</ref> }} {{Officeholder table | order = 24 | image = Eyal Zamir-RAV ALUF.jpg | officeholder = Eyal Zamir | officeholder_sort = Zamir, Eyal | born_year = 1966 | died_year = | term_start = 5 March 2025 | timeinoffice = {{ayd|2025|03|05}} | ref = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/eyal-zamir-takes-over-from-herzi-halevi-as-idf-chief-vows-victory-over-hamas/|title=Eyal Zamir takes over from Herzi Halevi as IDF chief, vows victory over Hamas|first=Emanuel|last=Fabian|website=The Times of Israel |date=5 March 2025 |issn=0040-7909}}</ref> }} {{Officeholder table end}}

===Timeline=== {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:12 PlotArea = top:10 bottom:50 right:100 left:20 AlignBars = late

Define $now = {{#time:Y}}

Colors = id:gray1 value:gray(0.75) id:gray2 value:gray(0.90)

DateFormat = yyyy Period = from:1947 till:$now TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = gridcolor:gray1 unit:year increment:5 start:1950 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:gray2 unit:year increment:1 start:1947

BarData = barset:PM

PlotData = width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till barset:PM

from: 1947 till: 1949 color:red text:"Dori" fontsize:10 from: 1949 till: 1952 color:red text:"Yadin" fontsize:10 from: 1952 till: 1953 color:red text:"Maklef" fontsize:10 from: 1953 till: 1958 color:red text:"Dayan" fontsize:10 from: 1958 till: 1961 color:red text:"Laskov" fontsize:10 from: 1961 till: 1964 color:red text:"Tzur" fontsize:10 from: 1964 till: 1968 color:red text:"Rabin" fontsize:10 from: 1968 till: 1972 color:red text:"Bar-Lev" fontsize:10 from: 1972 till: 1974 color:red text:"Elazar" fontsize:10 from: 1974 till: 1974 color:red text:"Hofi (acting)" fontsize:10 from: 1974 till: 1978 color:red text:"Gur" fontsize:10 from: 1978 till: 1983 color:red text:"Eitan" fontsize:10 from: 1983 till: 1987 color:red text:"Levi" fontsize:10 from: 1987 till: 1991 color:red text:"Shomron" fontsize:10 from: 1991 till: 1995 color:red text:"Barak" fontsize:10 from: 1995 till: 1998 color:red text:"Lipkin-Shahak" fontsize:10 from: 1998 till: 2002 color:red text:"Mofaz" fontsize:10 from: 2002 till: 2005 color:red text:"Ya'alon" fontsize:10 from: 2005 till: 2007 color:red text:"Halutz" fontsize:10 from: 2007 till: 2011 color:red text:"Ashkenazi" fontsize:10 from: 2011 till: 2015 color:red text:"Gantz" fontsize:10 from: 2015 till: 2019 color:red text:"Eizenkot" fontsize:10 from: 2019 till: 2023 color:red text:"Kohavi" fontsize:10 from: 2023 till: 2025 color:red text:"Halevi" fontsize:10 from: 2025 till: $now color:red text:"Zamir" fontsize:10

}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chief of General Staff (Israel)}} Category:Military ranks of Israel * Category:Israeli generals Israel Category:Commanders in chief