Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yitzhak Mordechai, decided today to appoint Shaul Mofaz as the IDF’s 16th Chief of Staff. Mofaz will replace current Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, who will retire from the IDF. The decision was reached following differences of opinion between Netanyahu who supported the appointment of Matan Vilnai and Mordechai whose preferred candidate was Mofaz. Mordechai informed both Mofaz and Vilnai of the appointment. It is estimated that Vilnai will now retire from the IDF and maybe appointed in another year as Head of the GSS or as an ambassador abroad.
Netanyahu indicated that he was impressed with Shaul Mofaz’ judgement, seriousness and thoroughness. According to Netanyahu Matan Vilnai is one of the IDF’s best commanders. Netanyahu admitted that Mordechai’s recommendation was a critical factor in the decision to appoint Mofaz instead of Vilnai.
Shaul Mofaz was born in 1948, and in 1966 enlisted in the Paratroopers, where he underwent the course from division commander up to regiment commander, and amongst others was commander of the paratroopers patrol during the Yom Kippur War.
In the Six-Day War he fought as a paratrooper at Rafiah, under the leadership of Rafael Eitan, and in 1976 took part in the Entebbe Operation. After his appointment as batallion commander and deputy commander brigade in the paratroopers regiment, he was appointed as the infantry unit’s regiment commander in the north, where he served during the Lebanon War.
After he returned from studying at the Officer’s College in Virginia, he was appointed as commander of the Israel officers’ college, and afterwards as commander of the paratroopers regiment.
In July 1986 Mofaz was appointed the paratroopers’ commander and in July 1988, was promoted to rank of Brigadier General and made a senior commander. In 1990 - 1992, he served as commander of the Gallilee region, and in August 1993 was chief of the IDF forces in Judea and Samaria.
In January 1994, he received the rank of Major General and in November of that same year was appointed Major General of the Southern Command. In March 1996, he was appointed head of the IDF planning unit, and in September 1997, served as Deputy Chief of Staff and head of the general staff. He is a graduate of the Marine Command College in Virginia.
Published by Israel's Business Arena May 10, 1998