Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Friday named Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi as the 22nd commander of the Israel Defense Forces, following a three-month selection process.
Kochavi is slated to replace IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, whose term comes to an end on Dec. 31.
The nomination is pending the vetting of the Public Service Nominations Committee, headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Eliezer Goldberg, as well as the government's approval.
"Maj. Gen. Kochavi is the most suitable and most experienced candidate to serve as chief of staff," Lieberman said in a statement.
"He possesses outstanding leadership, courage, creativity and command capabilities, and the unique combination of the positions he has held in the IDF, his proven command capabilities during times of emergency and the high esteem in which he is regarded within the IDF make him the best man for the job of leading the IDF in the coming years."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Kochavi is "the worthy candidate to be the next IDF chief of staff."
Kochavi was one of four officers shortlisted for the position, alongside former Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, former GOC Central Command Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, and former GOC Southern Command Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir.
Netanyahu's statement came nearly five hours after Lieberman's announcement. Sources familiar with the issue said that while the prime minister supports Kochavi's nomination, he sought to name Zamir as his deputy immediately, a move Lieberman opposed.
"The next deputy [chief of staff] will be selected only after Kochavi takes office and after the proper consultations between him and the defense minister. That is the way it has always been done," Lieberman's office said.
Still, an official with the Prime Minister's Office said Zamir will be named as Kochavi's deputy.
Born in 1964, Kochavi enlisted in the Paratroopers Brigade in 1982 and has served in multiple command roles throughout his career, most notably as commander of the Paratroopers Brigade (2001-2003), Director of Military Intelligence (2010-2014) and GOC Northern Command (2014-2017), after which he was appointed as deputy chief of staff.
Kochavi, 54, is married to Yael, an attorney, and has three daughters. He has a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University, and a second master's degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.
He is considered a very charismatic commander who is held in high regard by members of the General Staff. His peers describe him as exceptionally intelligent and a witty philosopher. He is also known for his love of music and his talent for painting. Once in office, he will also be the first vegetarian chief of staff.
