Who is Major General Eyal Zamir, the newly selected IDF chief of staff?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the selection of Major General Eyal Zamir to replace Lt. General Herzi Halevi when the latter steps down in March. 

The Prime Minister’s Office announced the decision Saturday evening, after the end of the Sabbath. 

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have agreed on the appointment of Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Eyal Zamir as the next IDF Chief-of-Staff,” the announcement said. 

Halevi announced his decision to step down due to the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) failures surrounding the events of Oct. 7, 2023, in January. 

At the time of his announcement, Halevi said the decision was made a long time ago, saying he waited until the IDF had “the upper hand.” 

“Now, with the IDF holding the upper hand in all theaters of combat and with another hostage return agreement underway, the time has come,” Halevi wrote. 

As soon as Halevi announced his resignation, along with Southern Command chief Maj.-Gen. Yaron Finkelman, questions immediately began as to who would take Halevi’s place. 

The coalition leadership said that no one who was part of the “conception” that led to the Oct. 7 attacks should be chosen to assume Halevi’s role. 

At the time, Katz announced three candidates for the position: Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Eyal Zamir, the current Director-General of the Defense Ministry; Maj.-Gen. Amir Baram, currently Halevi’s deputy; and Maj.-Gen. Tamir Yadai, who recently finished a stint as Ground Forces commander and is on vacation ahead of a planned retirement. 

Zamir, who was almost selected for the position of Chief of Staff during the last selection in 2022, was considered the clear favorite for this selection due to his extensive experience in the military and security arenas, as well as his good relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu. 

Zamir has served in the IDF for 38 years in a variety of roles. He was born and raised in the southern port city of Eilat. He enlisted in the Armored Corps for his military service, after attending IDF Junior Command Preparatory Boarding School, rising through the ranks to fill numerous positions as a decorated combat commander. He was awarded combat ribbons for service in two campaigns: the Second Lebanon War and Operation Protective Edge. 

Zamir commanded several divisions in the IDF, including the Reserves Armored Corps, the 7th Armored Brigade, 143rd Reserve Division, and the 36th Armored Division. After commanding the 36th Armored Division, he was nominated as the prime minister’s military secretary in 2012, serving until 2015, when he assumed leadership of Southern Command. 

Zamir ended his role as head of Southern Command in 2018, and his name was added to a shortlist to replace then Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot. When Aviv Kohavi was selected as chief of staff, Zamir served as his deputy until July, 2021. 

In 2022, Zamir was again placed on a shortlist to replace Kohavi, along with Herzi Halevi and Yoel Strick. In September 2022, then Defense Minister Benny Gantz selected Herzi Halevi to the position. 

After the coalition government assumed power in January 2023, then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant chose Zamir as director general for the Ministry of Defense.