Katz Announces Dado Bar Kalifa as Next Central Command Chief

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Sunday night that Maj. Gen. David ‘Dado’ Bar Kalifa, currently head of the IDF Manpower Directorate, will be the next commander of Central Command. Katz said Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir recommended the appointment. Bar Kalifa will replace Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, who assumed command in July 2024. The announcement came days after Bluth and prosecutors challenged Katz’s position on extending a restriction order in Judea and Samaria; Katz said the succession plan was arranged in advance and that commanders must account for government policy while exercising their legal authority.