Military Secretary to the Prime Minister
The Military Secretary to the Prime Minister (Hebrew: המזכיר הצבאי של ראש הממשלה, Ha-Mazkir Ha-Tzvaei Shel Rosh-Ha'Memshalah), is the senior military adviser to the Prime Minister of Israel on military and on national security issues. Major-General Eyal Zamir is the current incumbent.
The Military Secretary to the Prime Minister is privy to every product of the Israeli Intelligence Community. The role does not have much authority, yet is one of the most influential on Israel's national security policy. The Military Secretary is also a member of the Military Staff.
Previously, there were Brigadier Generals (Hebrew: תת-אלוף) serving as Military Secretary (The first Military Secretary was a mere Lieutenant Colonel; Hebrew: סגן אלוף), but ever since the 1990s, Major-Generals (Hebrew: אלוף) serve as the Military Secretaries. Some argue that raising the status of the Military Secretary has resulted in military considerations weighing in in decision making processes, at the expense of other considerations, and thus have suggested that the position of Military Secretary should be held by a lower rank.
The role of the Military Secretary has been diminished somewhat by the increasing importance of the National Security Council and the National Security Advisor.[1]
Military Secretaries
| Name | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lt. Colonel Nehemiah Argov | 1948–1957 | Did not serve in 1954–55 |
| Maj. General Chaim Ben-David | 1957–1963 | |
| Brig. General Yisrael Lior | 1963–1974 | |
| Brig. General Efraim Poran | 1974–1981 | |
| Brig. General Azriel Nevo | 1981–1993 | |
| Maj. General Danny Yatom | 1993–1996 | |
| Maj. General Zeev Livne | 1996–1997 | |
| Maj. General Gadi Eisenkot | 1999–2001 | Currently, Northern Command Commander. |
| Maj. General Moshe Kaplinsky | 2001–2002 | |
| Maj. General Yoav Galant | 2002–2005 | |
| Maj. General Gadi Shamni | 2005–2007 | |
| Maj. General Meir Kalifi | 2007–2009 | |
| Maj. General Yohanan Locker | 2010–2012 | [2] |
| Maj. General Eyal Zamir | 2012–2015 | |
| Brigadier General Eliezer Toledano | 2015- | Incumbent |
References
- ↑ Haviv Rettig Gur (6 January 2014). "Inside Israel's White House: How Netanyahu runs the country". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ↑ IAF Brig.-Gen. Yohanan Locker announced as PM's new military secretary, Jerusalem Post, 24 December, 2009
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