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Eyal Zamir

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Eyal Zamir
Eyal Zamir
Native name
אייל זמיר
Born (1966-01-26) January 26, 1966 (age 59)
Eilat, Israel
Allegiance Israel
Service / branch Israel Defense Forces
Years of service1984-
Rank Aluf (Major General)
Battles / wars

Eyal Zamir (Hebrew: אייל זמיר; born 26 January 1966) is an Israeli retired major general, currently serving as Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense. He was the Deputy Chief of Staff from December 2018[1] until his replacement by Herzi Halevi in July 2021.[2] Zamir additionally served as the commander of the Southern Command,[3] Military Secretary to the Prime Minister, commander of the 36th Division and commander of the 7th Armored Brigade. On 1 February 2025, it was announced that Zamir would become the IDF's Chief of the General Staff. This is set to take place on 6 March 2025, after current Chief's Herzi Halevi's resignation has taken effect.[4]

Early life and education

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Zamir was born and raised in Eilat. He is a graduate of the 17th class of The Military Academy for Command[5] in Tel Aviv.

Zamir is a graduate of the Inter-Service Command and Staff College, and the National Security College. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Tel-Aviv University, a Master's degree in national security from the University of Haifa,[6] and is an alumnus of the the General Management Program for Senior Executives (GMP) of The Wharton School.[7]

Career

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Zamir was drafted into the IDF and joined the Armored Corps in 1984.[8] In the Armored Corps he underwent training as a combat soldier and later attended the tank commander course. He completed an armored officers course and was a platoon commander and company commander in the 500th Brigade and the 460th Brigade.[6]

In 1992–1994, he served as the operations officer of the 7th Armored Brigade (with the rank of major). From 1994 to 1996 he served as the commander of the 75th Battalion in the 7th Brigade (with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel). In 1996, he was a commander of the tank commanders course at the armored school. He served in this position until 1997, when he went on to study for a year at the War School in France.[8][6]

In 1998–2000, he served as an operations officer of the 162nd Division. In the years 2000–2002, he was head of the Armored Corps Theory Department at the headquarters of the Chief Armored Officer, and at the same time served as commander of the 656th Brigade, a reserve division in the Central Command (with the rank of colonel). In the years 2002–2003, he was commander of the Tactical Training Center at the National Training Center on land, in parallel with his role as commander of the reserve division.[6]

In 2003–2005, he was commander of the 7th Armored Brigade.[9] In the years 2007–2009, he served as commander of the 143rd Division (with the rank of brigadier general), and at the same time commanded a course for company commanders and battalion commanders.[6]

In June 2009, he was appointed commander of the 36th Division.[10] In July 2011, he was replaced by Tamir Hayman.

In November 2012, he was appointed the Prime Minister's Military Secretary.[11] On 3 September 2015, he ended his term as the Prime Minister's military secretary. On 14 October 2015, he took office as Commander of the Southern Command.[12] Towards the end of his term, clashes began on the Israel-Gaza Strip border. On 6 June 2018, he ended his term as Commander of the Southern Command.[13]

Zamir appeared alongside Aviv Kohavi, Yair Golan and Nitzan Alon on the 2018 shortlist to replace then chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot.[14] Kochavi was ultimately appointed to the post, with Zamir becoming Deputy Chief of Staff,[1] a position he held until 11 July 2021.[2][15]

On 13 June 2022, Minister of Defense Benny Gantz commenced the process of selecting Israel's 23rd IDF Chief of Staff. Zamir was announced as one of three candidates along with Herzi Halevi and Yoel Strick.[16] On 17 July 2022, Gantz announced that the race is between Zamir and Halevi.[17] Halevi was chosen over Zamir in September[18] and assumed office in January,[19]

On 2 January 2023, he was appointed director general of the Ministry of Defense by Yoav Gallant.[20]

After Halevi announced his intention to step down as Chief of Staff in January 2025, Defense Minister Israel Katz cited Zamir, alongside Amir Baram and Tamir Yadai as the top three candidates to replace him.[21]

On 1 February 2025, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially announced that Zamir will take over the role of Chief of Staff after Herzi Halevi will step down in March.[22][23]

Awards and decorations

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Eyal Zamir was awarded two campaign ribbons, for his service during two wars.

Second Lebanon War Operation Protective Edge

References

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  1. ^ a b "Netanyahu names Eyal Zamir as next IDF deputy chief of staff". The Times of Israel. 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  2. ^ a b "Maj. Gen. Herzi Halevi takes over as IDF's deputy chief of staff". The Times of Israel. 2021-07-11. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  3. ^ Tamari, Nachmia (2017-01-11). "חודר שריון: בצה"ל מחפשים את הנוסחה לעידוד השירות בטנקים". Maariv. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  4. ^ "Next IDF Chief: Eyal Zamir (Hebrew), Ynet, Feb 1, 2025.
  5. ^ "אייל זמיר • עמותת בוגרי הפנימיות הצבאיות בחיפה ובתל אביב וידידיהן". עמותת בוגרי הפנימיות הצבאיות בחיפה ובתל אביב וידידיהן (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  6. ^ a b c d e "אייל זמיר". עמותת בוגרי הפנימיות הצבאיות בחיפה ובתל אביב וידידיהן (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  7. ^ "About Us | Ministry of Defense". english.mod.gov.il. Archived from the original on 2024-12-26. Retrieved 2025-02-01.
  8. ^ a b "המזכיר הצבאי של ראש הממשלה- אלוף אייל זמיר". IDF. 2012-11-27. Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  9. ^ Amir, Noam (2017-11-01). "חודר שריון: בצה"ל מחפשים את הנוסחה לעידוד השירות בטנקים". Maariv. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  10. ^ Grinberg, Chanan (2009-07-30). "ההתעללות בשריון: נחקר מפקד גדוד 74". ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  11. ^ Kampinsky, Yoni (2012-11-26). ""האנשים הם המרכיב העוצמתי האמיתי של צה"ל"". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  12. ^ Kobi, Finkler (2015-10-14). ""ניצחנו ב'צוק איתן' ונשארנו בני אדם"". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  13. ^ Buchbot, Amir (2018-06-09). "האלוף שהוריד גיליוטינה על חמאס עוזב את עזה - ומסמן את היעד הבא". Walla! (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  14. ^ "המירוץ נפתח: אלה ארבעת המועמדים לרמטכ"לות". סרוגים (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  15. ^ Shoval, Lilach (2021-07-12). "'We will continue to build up the IDF's power,' Defense Minister Gantz says". Israel Hayom. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  16. ^ Zitun, Yoav; Fox, Nina (2022-06-13). "גנץ פתח בהליך מינוי הרמטכ"ל הבא, בין המועמדים: סגנו של כוכבי והסגן לשעבר". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  17. ^ Zitun, Yoav (2022-07-17). "גנץ צמצם את רשימת המועמדים: הרמטכ"ל הבא - הרצי הלוי או אייל זמיר". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  18. ^ "הרצי הלוי נבחר לתפקיד הרמטכ"ל ה-23 של צה"ל - וואלה חדשות". וואלה (in Hebrew). 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  19. ^ "הרצי הלוי נכנס לתפקיד הרמטכ"ל: "נשמור על צה"ל חף מכל שיקול שאיננו הביטחון" - וואלה חדשות". וואלה (in Hebrew). 2023-01-16. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  20. ^ "סגן הרמטכ"ל לשעבר מונה למנכ"ל משרד הבטחון". סרוגים (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  21. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (2024-01-22). "After Halevi's resignation, Katz names 3 generals as candidates for next IDF chief". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  22. ^ BOB, YONAH JEREMY (2025-02-01). "Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir appointed as new IDF chief, succeeding Herzi Halevi". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  23. ^ Agence France Presse, AFP. "Netanyahu Appoints Major General Eyal Zamir As Israel's New Army Chief". Barron's. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
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