The Conflict Continues
Defense Minister vs. Chief of Staff: "Anyone Who Preaches Refusal Will Not Serve in the IDF"
Katz informed the Chief of Staff that he rejects the recommendation to appoint German Giltman, one of the leaders of the controversial left wing (Achim LeNeshek) Brothers in Arms organization, to a senior position in the Ground Forces.
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced this morning (Friday) to Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir that he is disqualifying the IDF's recommendation to promote Reserve Colonel German Giltman, one of the leaders of the Brothers in Arms organization.
lAccording to him, Giltman called for refusal during the period of protest against the judicial reform, and he should not be allowed to hold military positions."Anyone who preaches and encourages refusal will not serve in the IDF and will not be promoted to any position," Katz stated in an official announcement.
The decision was made shortly after the list of appointments approved in a staffing discussion headed by the Chief of Staff was published, which also included Giltman's promotion to the position of commander of the Headquarters Center in the Ground Forces and promotion to the rank of brigadier general.
Giltman, born in the Soviet Union and a former armor officer, served thirty years in the IDF in command roles and fought, up to his last position as the IDF attaché at the Moscow embassy. After his discharge, he became one of the prominent activists in the Brothers in Arms organization, which opposed the judicial reform.
At the organization's press conference in March 2023, he clearly stated his views towards refusing to serve in the IDF. He said:
“I am not willing to serve in a place that is not democratic. There are those who look at it and say, ‘Maybe I lived there for 18 years.’ I left a country, Russia, where even my last position in the defense sector was in a non-democratic state. I am not willing to go back there. I am not willing for Israel to become a non-democratic state.
The most important thing to me, besides the state itself, is the IDF. You are putting us in a dilemma, us, reserve soldiers, foreign soldiers, officers, reservists who are not volunteering today, and you, the government, the political echelon, must take responsibility and understand the direction in which you are dragging the country.
We must not reach a situation where we live in a state with an oppressive regime. We must not reach a situation where the state is not democratic.”
IDF pushes back:
Following Defense Minister Israel Katz’s decision to halt his promotion, Col. (res.) Germon Giltman is expected to release a recorded clarification stating that he does not support refusal to serve and condemns all forms of insubordination. During the judicial overhaul period, he was a member of the “Tankers for Democracy” group.
Senior IDF officials told Galei Tzahal that Giltman, a 53-year-old veteran armored corps officer, is “highly qualified,” and was approached to return to service as part of an effort to “restore the IDF to its foundations.” The initiative aims to bring back experienced commanders to help rebuild the army after October 7 and the prolonged war.
At last night’s General Staff meeting discussing the appointment, every member of the forum supported Giltman’s promotion, including the military secretary to the Prime Minister, Brig. Gen. Roman Gofman, who rose through the armored corps alongside him. According to IDF officials, Giltman’s involvement in “Tankers for Democracy” during the judicial crisis was not raised in the discussion.
Col. (res.) Giltman served 700 days of reserve duty during the war, acting as operations director and chief of staff of the 162nd Division. His former commander, Operations Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen, praised his performance and personally recommended his advancement.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir was informed of Katz’s decision only minutes before the public announcement. The Defense Minister did not speak with him directly; the update was relayed through staff channels, leaving the Chief of Staff no chance to discuss the matter before it was released.