The election to the next Knesset of several high ranking military reserve officers will require amendment of the present law that bars MKs from holding command posts in the armed forces.
The best known case is that of Gen. Ariel Sharon, the Yom Kippur War hero who served briefly in the Knesset as a Likud MK until he resigned to go back into uniform. Sharon was elected to the new Knesset on May 17 as leader of the Shlomzion faction. Another senior officer elected on the Democratic Movement for Change (DMC) list is Assaf Yagouri who, as a Lt. Col., was the highest ranking Israeli officer captured by the Egyptions during the Yom Kippur War. Last Friday he was promoted to the rank of full Colonel in the reserves and given command of an armored unit. Both he and Sharon wish to continue to serve in the army but not be compelled to resign from the Knesset.
Meanwhile, the Army announced last night that Gen. Moshe Levi, 41, has been named commanding officer of the Central Command. Levi, who was born in Israel of Iraqi parents is the first Israeli of Oriental background promoted to senior rank.
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