Elazar New Chief of Staff

Command of Israel’s armed forces changed hands yesterday. Gen. David (Dado) Elazar who commanded Israel’s successful assault on the Golan Heights in 1967 became Chief of Staff, succeeding Gen. Haim Barlev who has held that post for four years, one year longer than normal. The 46-year-old Yugoslavian-born Elazar, Israel’s ninth Chief of Staff, paid a courtesy call on President Zalman Shazar after his appointment became official.

Elazar settled in Palestine in 1940 under the Youth Aliya program and joined Palmach, the elite brigade of the Jewish defense force, Haganah. He rose to the rank of Col. in Israel’s Army in 1956 and became Barlev’s second in command in 1967 as chief of the General Headquarters Branch.

Barlev, 47, was also born in Yugoslavia where he and Elazar were members of the Hashomer Hatzair Zionist youth movement. His retirement yesterday ended Barlev’s 30-year military career. After an extended leave he will enter the Cabinet as Minister of Commerce and Industry, a portfolio presently held by Finance Minister Pinhas Sapir.

The new No. 2 man in Israel’s Army is Gen. Israel Tal who has succeeded Elazar as head of the General Headquarters Branch. Tal, a 47-year-old sabra, served in the British Army during World War II and fought in the ranks of the Jewish Brigade in Italy. He fought in Israel’s War of Independence and in the 1956 Sinai campaign. During the Six-Day War be commanded the northern arm of the Israeli pincer drive that pierced Egyptian defenses and reached the Suez Canal. Prior to his promotion he served in the Defense Ministry in charge of defense production.