in round of appointments

in round of appointments Sunday's announcement that GOC Southern Command Yoav Galant will become the Israel Defense Forces' 20th chief of staff is expected to produce one of the largest reshuffles in the history of the General Staff. Most of the officers there will either take on new positions or retire.

The new appointments will be decided on in consultations between Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Galant and outgoing Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi.The next round of appointments will be extensive in part because many of the generals are already serving beyond the usual time allotted. The lack of turnover in the General Staff is attributed to Ashkenazi's unwillingness to make senior appointments and his inability to agree with Barak on who should take over each po

Galant's appointment will create an immediate opening for the job of GOC Southern Command. In the coming months, Galant is expected to leave his post and enter a transitional period that will prepare him for the position of chief of staff, which he will officially assume in February.