| Ram Rothberg | |
|---|---|
| Commander of the Israeli Navy | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office October 10, 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Eliezer Marom |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Israel |
| Service/branch | Israeli Navy |
| Rank | Aluf[1] (Vice Admiral) |
| Unit | Israeli General Staff |
| Commands | Flotilla 13 Commander, Chief of Naval Intelligence, Commander of the Haifa Naval Base, Commander of Israeli Navy |
| Battles/wars | 2006 Lebanon War |
Aluf (Vice Admiral, Major General) Ram Rothberg is a general in the Israel Defense Forces that currently serves as the head of the Israel Navy.[2]
Ram Rothberg commanded the Flotilla 13 commando force from 2001 to 2004[3] and presided over some of its most illustrious operations, such as the raid on the Karin A arms smuggling ship in January 2002.[4]
He later served as the Chief of Naval Intelligence during the Second Lebanon War and was reprimanded by then-Chief of Staff Dan Halutz for the 14 July 2006 attack on the INS Hanit. An Iranian missile fired by Hezbollah hit the ship, whose crew was apparently unaware that the Lebanese group possessed such weapons. The strike left four soldiers dead. Rothberg was criticized over his contribution to the failure, but later was promoted to the position of commander of the Navy's Haifa base.[4]
Afterwards, Rothberg served in the Israeli National Security Council.[5]
On 4 August 2011, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved his appointment as the next head of the Israel Navy,[5][4][3][6] after being nominated by IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz. He is to be be promoted in rank to Major General (Aluf). He will replace Maj. Gen. Eliezer Marom, who is retiring after serving in the IDF for 37 years.[6] He was not the front runner for the post and the appointment was received with surprise by military officials.[4] On 10 October 2011, in a ceremony held at the Navy base in Haifa, Maj. Gen. Rothberg entered his role as commander of the Israel Navy.[2]
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