Ehud Barak names new military chief of staff

Defense Minister Ehud Barak named a new chief of staff for Israel’s military in the wake of a scandal involving his choice.

Barak named Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant to replace current chief Gabi Ashkenazi, who has served for the past four years and whose position was not extended by an extra year, as is traditional. Ashkenazi will step down in February.

Galant, 51, currently serves as head of the Southern Command of the Israel Defense Forces.

Israel’s Channel 2 television reported earlier this month on a document leaked to the station, which allegedly outlined a public relations campaign for Galant to be promoted. The document was deemed a fake last week by police. Galant has not been implicated in the scandal. — jta