Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reversed his decision to dismiss the military commander of the West Bank, Major General Avi Bluth, after the move drew sharp criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the army leadership.
Katz had announced Bluth's removal during a live television interview on Channel 14, naming Major General Dado Bar-Califa as his replacement. The military said the announcement was uncoordinated with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and Netanyahu called the maneuver "indecent". Katz reversed course Monday evening following a meeting with settler representatives.
The dispute centered on a military appeals committee decision not to renew an administrative expulsion order against settler Tal Yinon Dardek, suspected of involvement in a March attack on the village of Khirbet Humsa in the Jordan Valley. Katz had opposed renewing the order. The episode unfolds as Israel prepares for national elections on October 27.