The report was issued amid an open battle over senior posts in the
military, including the appointment of a chief of staff. Defense Minister
Ehud Barak, in a move confirmed by the Cabinet, has selected Maj. Gen. Yoav
Galant as the next military chief, an appointment opposed by many senior
officers.
Under Israeli law, the chief of staff recommends promotions to the
General Staff, whose members hold the rank of major general. The defense
minister has been authorized to approve the promotion.
The report suggested that Barak, defense minister since 2007, was
dominating the selection of senior military officers. The defense minister
was said to have insisted on the right to directly appoint senior commanders
and determine the length of their term.
"It is also necessary to reach a regulated understanding on the question
of the degree to which the defense minister may intervene in the process of
appointing certain members of the general staff, rather than just approving
their appointment and, if necessary, to bring this matter to the
government," the report said.
The report, believed to be the first by the government on the military
promotion system, examined the appointment of officers from the rank of
lieutenant colonel and above. The comptroller
determined that Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi improved the criteria
for these appointments since 2007.
Still, the report asserted that many senior officers had been promoted
before they completed their required terms. The comptroller reported that 63
percent of colonels were promoted before completion of their minimum tour
of duty. Another 24 percent of candidates for lieutenant colonel failed to
fulfill their educational and military requirements.
"The Israel Defense Forces must make certain that the development of the
officer staff, and the characteristics of service, allow it to meet the
criteria established as a condition for appointment to these jobs," the
report said.
The military has acknowledged the criticism of the report. A military
statement said a system has been drafted for the appointment of senior
officers.
"The IDF intends to formally establish certain parameters including age,
training, number of positions held, higher education degrees and personal
profile," the military said. "The regulation will be presented to the
defense minister for his comments."
ShareThis
