Defense Min. criticized by IDF, opposition, settler leaders for dismissing general over crackdown on violent settlers

Defense Minister Israel Katz managed to unite the military, settler leaders, as well as the opposition against him on Sunday, after announcing that the IDF Central Command chief would be dismissed for insisting on an administrative restraining order against a violent settler.

In a highly rare occurrence, Katz’s public denouncement of Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth drew a storm of criticism from across the political spectrum, and particularly from settler leaders and proponents of the settler movement.

They stressed that Bluth, who grew up in Samaria, had always strongly supported the broader settler movement while also strongly opposing vigilante violence and attacks on Palestinian civilians, in the process of which he repeatedly clashed with Defense Minister Katz.

During an interview on Channel 14 on Sunday evening, Katz slammed Bluth for filing an appeal against his decision to release Tal Yinon Dardik, an Israeli with a history of nationalist violence who is suspected of an attack on the Palestinian village Khirbet Humsa in March.

Katz has been strongly criticized for opposing the use of administrative detentions against radical settler activists, despite objections from the security system.

“The general needs to take my policy into account – and I will insist on this,” Katz said. “I announced that I decided to implement the decision – to appoint Maj.-Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as Commander of Central Command. Because I also want, in Central Command – an IDF that strives for decisive victory, strikes the enemies, and protects the settlers.”

The IDF responded to Katz’s remarks by stressing they were not coordinated with IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, who it said “does not intend to change key IDF commanders' positions during these sensitive times. Once such a decision is made, it will be taken by the Chief of the General Staff and approved in accordance with the required protocols.”

Regarding Bluth, the military said he “commands the Central Command amid a complex reality, with professionalism, bravery, and dedication, and should be granted complete trust.”

Katz’s attack on Bluth highlighted a rift between the broader settlement movement, which supports going after violent radicals in its midst, and more extreme elements in the settler movement, which have been pressuring Katz to release Dardik.

Recently retired Brig.-Gen. Ofer Winter, who was seen as one of the most hawkish and right-wing voices in the military and is reportedly wooed by several right-wing parties, strongly criticized Katz for the way he announced the dismissal of Bluth, whom he said “is one of the generals who acted more than anyone to implement sovereignty and defend the settlements.”

“The Defense Minister of the State of Israel does not dismiss a general on a live broadcast. If you have criticism, call him in for clarification. This is not the way. This is not how public trust is created,” Winter added.

🔴 IDF Major General Avi Bluth visits the site of the Tayasir checkpoint attack, where two Israeli reservists were killed this morning pic.twitter.com/trnqzPXYKN

— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) February 4, 2025

The Yesha Council, the umbrella of municipal councils in Judea and Samaria, praised Bluth for his “offensive military leadership on the ground [that] has led to major successes in the war against terrorism, together with close and respectful cooperation with the settlement movement.”

Katz’s decision was also greeted with exceptionally harsh comments from journalists, including those seen as strong supporters of the settlements. Channel 12’s Amit Segal said that Bluth’s only sin was that he “acted professionally and while protecting the settlement, but not within the Likud primaries' schedule. Simply utter madness.”

“Bluth is the best Commander of Central Command in decades,” wrote Ariel Kahana of Israel Hayom.

He noted that “in an unprecedented move, Bluth made holding territory and the hilltop outposts an integral part of Israel's security doctrine. In political terms, he is the most right-wing general to command Central Command since Gandi [former general Rehavam Ze'evi].”

“Indeed, there is a problem with the fact that Bluth took legal action against a position adopted by the minister responsible for him. However, the way to resolve such a dispute is not in a television studio,” Kahana said, predicting that “Katz behaved childishly, and in the end it will also fail. After all, the Chief of Staff will not allow the dismissal, and Katz will not dare dismiss Zamir either.”

Most opposition leaders also slammed Katz’s remarks. Former IDF chief and Yashar party leader, Gadi Eisenkot, wrote on 𝕏 that “The spectacle that took place on the ‘Patriots’ program is an unprecedented low in the relations between the civilian echelon and the military echelon, an unworthy and unlawful act. The State of Israel is not private property, and the IDF is not a tool in the primaries of politicians who have lost their way.”

Katz’s office responded to the criticism by noting that Maj.-Gen. Bar Kalifa was recommended to become the next Central Command head in the coming round of appointments by IDF Chief of Staff Zamir in April, arguing that Katz only highlighted this fact rather than calling for Bluth’s immediate dismissal.

Katz claimed that “this is not a real storm but a media attempt to divert the discussion from the real question: what will happen if [Democrats leader] Yair Golan, who has already threatened to dismiss Maj. Gen. David Zini, becomes Defense Minister in a government headed by Eisenkot.”