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Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz has approved IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir’s recommendation to appoint Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as the next commander of the IDF Central Command, part of a sweeping round of senior military appointments announced Monday.

Bar Kalifa is expected to replace Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth and assume command sometime in 2027. The precise date of the transition will be determined based on the operational situation at the time.

The appointment was finalized during a broad personnel meeting chaired Monday by Zamir, during which numerous changes were approved across the IDF’s senior and field-command ranks. Bar Kalifa’s selection had been anticipated after Katz said during an August interview with Channel 14’s “The Patriots” that he intended to appoint him to lead Central Command. Following Zamir’s recommendation, Katz has now formally approved the appointment.

The IDF’s maneuvering brigades will see extensive leadership changes. Col. Yonatan Meir will take command of the 7th Armored Brigade, Col. Tal Elkobi will command the 188th Armored Brigade, Col. Bar Bashan will take over the Givati Brigade, Col. Eitan Gilad will command the Nahal Brigade, and Col. Ran Friedman will become commander of the Paratroopers Brigade.

Col. Shimon Siso will be appointed commander of the Commando Brigade, while Col. Nir Ifergan will take command of the Kfir Brigade. Col. Efrat Kikuv will be appointed commander of the 282nd Artillery Brigade, and Col. Niv Daube will take command of the Bnei Or Formation.

A number of new appointments were also approved for the IDF’s special operations units and Israeli Navy. Brig. Gen. R. will be appointed commander of the Military Intelligence Directorate’s Special Operations Division. In the Navy, Col. O. will take command of Shayetet 13, Col. B. will become commander of the submarine flotilla, and Col. V. will command the missile boat flotilla. Col. Aviel Balhassan will become head of the Ground Forces Training Department.

The military also announced several senior appointments involving logistics and strategic planning. Brig. Gen. Chai Kfir Magnazi will become chief of staff of the Technology and Logistics Directorate. Col. Elad Benano Zion will be promoted to brigadier general and appointed head of the Logistics Division, while Col. Avi Malka will also be promoted to brigadier general and take command of the IDF’s central supply center.

Col. Yonatan Schneider will similarly be promoted and appointed head of the Tevel Division in the Planning Directorate.

Changes were also approved within the IDF’s regional commands. Col. Anan Fares will become operations officer for Southern Command, while Col. Dvir Avraham Diamond will assume the corresponding position in Northern Command.

At General Staff headquarters, Col. O. will be appointed head of the Operational Planning Department in the Operations Directorate, Col. Y. will head the Planning Department in the Planning Directorate, and Col. Regina Azulai will become head of the Organization Department in the Planning Directorate.

Col. Meir Azulai will be appointed head of the Logistics and Operations Department in the Technology and Logistics Directorate. Col. Roi Nadler will become head of the Medical Department and deputy chief medical officer, while Col. Assaf Shlomo Gabai will take command of the IDF’s Afek Command and Staff Course.

The latest appointments also include Col. Adniram Sharabi as commander of the School of Military Engineering and Col. Daniel Kreuzman in a command position within the IDF’s training system.

The personnel meeting additionally approved several officers for academic studies in Israel and abroad, along with further promotions and appointments in the Israeli Air Force, Navy and General Staff directorates. The remaining appointments agreed upon during the meeting still require final approval from the defense minister.

A woman armed with two knives fatally stabbed another woman and critically wounded a man in Times Square Monday afternoon before she was shot and killed by police after allegedly refusing officers’ commands to drop the weapons, according to the NYPD.

The stabbing victim and the suspected attacker both later died from their injuries, police sources said.

A male victim who was also stabbed during the attack remained hospitalized in critical condition, according to police.

Authorities said the incident unfolded at approximately 4:26 p.m. near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue, in the heart of Times Square. Police described the suspect as a woman who appeared to be emotionally disturbed and said she was threatening people while carrying two knives.

The woman allegedly attacked the male and female victims before running north toward the NYPD substation in Times Square, authorities said.

Officers confronted the armed woman near the substation and ordered her to put down the knives, but police said she refused to comply.

Approximately one minute after the stabbing was reported, at 4:27 p.m., officers opened fire, striking the woman.

Emergency personnel rushed to treat those injured in the violence. The female stabbing victim and the woman shot by police were subsequently pronounced dead, while the wounded man was listed in critical condition.

The incident was initially reported to authorities as a robbery involving a knife. Investigators, however, later said they did not believe robbery was the motive.

Police now believe the woman was emotionally disturbed and said investigators have not identified any clear motive for the attack.

The violence prompted a major police response in one of Manhattan’s busiest tourist districts as investigators worked to secure the scene and determine exactly what led to the deadly confrontation.

Authorities closed traffic between West 42nd Street and West 47th Street while the investigation remained underway.

{Matzav.com}