The elevation of Maj. Gen. Chaim Laskov to the post of Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Army set in motion a chain of changes in the entire Army high command. Some of these changes were announced within the past 24 hours, others are anticipated shortly.
Gen. Laskov was succeeded as commander of the southern front by Col. Chaim Vivian Herzog, who served for a time as Israeli military attache in Washington. Brig. Zvi Tsur, the commander of the central front, was promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff while the current deputy, Brig. Meir Amit will take command of the central front.
Russian born, Gen. Laskov came to this country as a young child. He received his baptism of fire as a youth in high school luring the Arab riots when he became associated with the Haganah. That association continued throughout his life except for a five-year period when he served as an officer with British forces in Italy and Belgium during World War II.
During the war of liberation Gen, Laskov served with distinction in a number of important campaigns, including the one which broke through from Central Palestine to the Negev, the assault on Latrun and the Galilee fighting. Brig. Moshe Dayan, who will remain on active status with the army, will take a long leave to resume his studies at the Hebrew University.
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