Maj. Gen Yitzhak Hofi was named acting Chief of Staff of Israel’s armed forces by Defense Minister Moshe Dayan last night in a major shake-up of the Israeli high command following publication of the Agranat Committee’s partial report on events leading up to the Yom Kippur War. He replaces Gen. David Elazar who resigned.
In another change. Maj. Gen. Shlomo Gazit,former coordinator of the administered territories, was appointed chief of the army’s intelligence branch, replacing Gen. Eliahu Zeira who also resigned in the aftermath of the Agranat report. His deputy. Brig. Gen. Aryeh Shalev. criticized in the report, was shifted from intelligence to command of the Judaea-Samaria region. Maj, Gen, Shmuel Gonen, who commanded the southern front when the war broke out, was temporarily removed from active duty pending further investigation, in compliance with the Agranat Committee’s recommendations.
Meanwhile, speculation was rife as to who would be appointed permanent Chief of Staff. Gen, Hoff’s name has been mentioned. So have former Air Force commander Gen, Ezer Weizman: recently retired former Deputy Chief of Staff Gen. Israel Tal: Gen. Mordechai Gur. former military attache in Washington: and Res. Gen. Yeshayahu Gavish who left the army to become an executive of Koor Industries.
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