Zamir Freezes Senior IDF Appointments Through Election, Keeping Bluth in Post

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has frozen senior military appointments until after Israel's October election, leaving Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth in command into 2027. Reports say Zamir does not intend to open the selection process for Bluth's successor during the sensitive election period, even after Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly backed Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa for the role. The IDF said Bluth retains Zamir's full confidence and commands a complex arena with professionalism and courage. The move also postpones other senior personnel decisions to preserve command continuity and limit political involvement.