Military Secretary to the Prime Minister

The Military Secretary to the Prime Minister (Hebrew: המזכיר הצבאי של ראש הממשלה, HaMazkir HaTzva'i Shel Rosh HaMemshala), is the senior military adviser to the Prime Minister of Israel on military and national security issues. As a member of the Military Staff, the position is privy to most products of the Israeli Intelligence Community. The position's current incumbent is Major General Avi Gil.

Military Secretary of to the Prime Minister
המזכיר הצבאי לראש הממשלה
Incumbent
Brigadier General Roman Gofman
since 16 May 2024
 Israeli Ground Forces
Member of
Reports toPrime Minister
AppointerPrime Minister by recommend of Chief of the General Staff
Formation17 March 1948
First holderNehemiah Argov

History

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Earlier Military Secretaries held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Hebrew: סגן אלוף). In later years, Major-General's (Hebrew: אלוף) and Brigadier Generals (Hebrew: תת-אלוף) have served in the position.

Position's influence

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It has been suggested that the raising of status of the Military Secretary has resulted in military considerations unduly weighing upon Israel's national security policy at the expense of other considerations. It has been additionally suggested [by whom?] that to remedy this, the position of Military Secretary ought to be held by a lower rank. Critics of this view have suggested that the Military Secretary's influence follows that of other positions, namely, the National Security Council and the National Security Advisor.[1]

List of Military Secretaries

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Name Tenure Notes Ref.
Lt. Colonel Nehemiah Argov 1948–1957 Did not serve in 1954–55[citation needed]
Maj. General Chaim Ben-David 1957–1963
Brig. General Yisrael Lior 1963–1974
Brig. General Efraim Poran 1974–1981
Brig. General Azriel Nevo 1981–1993
Maj. General Danny Yatom 1993–1996
Maj. General Zeev Livne 1996–1997
Maj. General Gadi Eisenkot 1999–2001
Maj. General Moshe Kaplinsky 2001–2002
Maj. General Yoav Gallant 2002–2005
Maj. General Gadi Shamni 2005–2007
Maj. General Meir Kalifi 2007–2009
Maj. General Yohanan Locker 2010–2012 [2]
Maj. General Eyal Zamir 2012–2015
Brigadier General Eliezer Toledano 2015–2018 [3]
Brigadier General Avi Bluth 2018–2021 [4]
Maj. General Avi Gil 2021–2024

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Haviv Rettig Gur (6 January 2014). "Inside Israel's White House: How Netanyahu runs the country". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  2. ^ IAF Brig.-Gen. Yohanan Locker announced as PM's new military secretary[permanent dead link], Jerusalem Post, 24 December 2009
  3. ^ Zeyton, Yoav (14 August 2015). "אליעזר טולדנו מונה למזכיר הצבאי של ראש הממשלה ויעלה לדרגת תת-אלוף" [Eliezer Toledano was appointed the Prime Minister's military secretary and will be promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  4. ^ Ahronheim, Anna (17 July 2018). "Netanyahu appoints Col. Avi Blot as new military secretary". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 15 October 2023.