Herzi Halevi

Photos show an attack by settlers on the Palestinian village of Umm Safa in the West Bank on June 24, 2023. (Yesh Din)

June 25, 2023, 12:29 am

Off-duty soldier among 4 detained in latest settler attack on Palestinian village

Serviceman is suspected of involvement in Saturday rampage through Umm Safa in West Bank, where settlers set vehicles and homes ablaze and opened fire on civilians

By Emanuel Fabian

A screenshot from video of settlers firing at the West Bank village of Umm Safa on June 24, 2023. (Twitter video screenshot: Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

June 24, 2023, 9:22 pm

IDF, Shin Bet, police chiefs denounce settler attacks as ‘terror,’ vow to fight them

In rare joint statement, top officials say vigilante attacks targeting Palestinian civilians ‘contradict Jewish values,’ divert forces from fighting Palestinian terror

By Emanuel Fabian

IDF chief Herzi Halevi walks with other military and police officials near the site where an Egyptian policeman infiltrated into Israel, June 3, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)

June 4, 2023, 4:23 pm

IDF chief taps general to probe ‘systemic’ failures in deadly Egypt border attack

Maj. Gen. Nimrod Aloni to investigate theory, practice of ‘defending peaceful borders’ after Egyptian policeman sneaks through border gate that was merely held shut with zip ties

By Emanuel Fabian

Illustrative: View of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, November 29, 2020. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

May 24, 2023, 6:01 pm

Shekel slumps 1.6% against dollar after IDF chief hints at war with Iran

Rattled market sends exchange rate to NIS 3.73 per dollar for only third time since early 2017; Lapid blames budget passage, noting currency muscled up when he was in power

By ToI Staff

IDF chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi speaks at a conference hosted by the Institute for Policy and Strategy of Reichman University in Herzliya on May 23, 2023 (Gilad Kavalerchik)

May 23, 2023, 4:44 pm

IDF chief on Iran nuke program: ‘Negative developments’ could prompt Israeli response

Halevi says Israel’s capabilities against Iran are ‘good’ but need to be enhanced; national security adviser insists even bunker-buster-bomb-proof nuclear site can ‘be reached’

By Emanuel Fabian and Lazar Berman

File: Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fox tours the scene of a shooting attack in the West Bank town of Huwara, March 26, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces).

May 18, 2023, 1:38 pm

IDF chief slams settlers’ latest ‘slanderous campaign’ against Central Command head

Banners hung up along main West Bank highway castigate Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fox for authorizing demolition of illegal outposts; Gallant: ‘Despicable campaign’

By Emanuel Fabian

Yoav Gallant and his mother Fruma in an undated photo (Facebook)

May 11, 2023, 11:24 am

Holocaust survivor and ‘Exodus’ passenger Fruma Gallant, defense minister’s mom, dies

Herzog praises her for passing on sense of duty to serve to next generation; Netanyahu sends condolences to ‘our friend’ Yoav Gallant, who doesn’t break from directing Gaza op

By ToI Staff

IDF chief Herzi Halevi (right) speaks at an award ceremony at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, May 8, 2023. Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter (left) attends a Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting at the Knesset, on October 22, 2018. (Israel Defense Forces; Miriam Alster/Flash90)

May 8, 2023, 8:28 pm

Halevi slams right-wing efforts to pressure IDF over promotion of top generals

After controversial officer again not advanced, and subsequent outrage, military chief says introducing ‘foreign considerations’ into appointments is ‘unacceptable, even dangerous’

By Emanuel Fabian

Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter attends a Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting at the Knesset, on October 22, 2018. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

May 3, 2023, 3:43 pm

Contentious general once again left out of new IDF promotions

Military announces shuffle in General Staff, with Southern Command chief taking over Iran affairs; Ofer Winter said expected to quit after being snubbed again

By Emanuel Fabian

Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, head of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) (right) and IDF chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, visit the Israeli Navy’s elite Shayetet 13 commando unit, April 27, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)

April 27, 2023, 9:20 pm

US CENTCOM chief arrives in Israel to discuss cooperation, joint naval activity

Erik Kurilla visits elite Shayetet 13 commando unit with IDF chief Halevi, is briefed on recent operations; meeting with defense minister focuses on Iran

By Emanuel Fabian

Israelis in Jewish prayer shawls watch helicopters fly ahead of an air show marking the country's 75th Independence Day observance in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

April 26, 2023, 11:11 am

Air Force takes to the sky as 75th Independence Day celebrations get into swing

Flybys across the country feature over 100 aircraft; IDF chief of staff says army acts as a common denominator providing strength through unity; crowds flock to nature parks

By ToI Staff

Israeli soldiers stand still as the Memorial Day siren sounds during a ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, April 24, 2023. (Erik Marmor/Flash90)

April 24, 2023, 10:57 pm

Leaders plead for Memorial Day unity to replace protests as nation remembers fallen

Army chief Halevi praises Jewish tradition of arguing, but says disputes must be kept outside cemetery, responding to worries overhaul fight will harm remembrances

By ToI Staff and Emanuel Fabian

An Israeli soldier places flags on graves of fallen soldiers at the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem, April 23, 2023, ahead of Memorial Day. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

April 24, 2023, 12:37 pm

Israel readies to usher in Memorial Day ceremonies, under shadow of overhaul rifts

Disruption feared at events for 24,213 fallen troops and 4,255 terror victims, as some ministers cancel; bereaved relatives to stay away; Bennett: ‘Focus only on families’ pain’

By Michael Bachner

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi is seen at a Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony held at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem, April 17, 2023. (Erik Marmor/Flash90)

April 23, 2023, 6:04 am

Halevi pleads to keep ‘noise of debate’ out of IDF cemeteries on Memorial Day

Military chief says tensions over government’s judicial overhaul plans should be kept out of military graveyards so bereaved families can mourn in solitude

By Emanuel Fabian

IDF chief Herzi Halevi speaks to troops ahead of a military march, April 20, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)

April 20, 2023, 11:07 am

Opposing blanket exemption for Haredim, IDF chief says it must remain ‘people’s army’

As Netanyahu discusses proposal to exempt ultra-Orthodox men from service at a younger age, Halevi says ‘our strength is greater’ when army is united, heterogeneous

By Emanuel Fabian