The IDF informed the High Court of Justice on Monday that Shlomi Binder is to take office as the new IDF intelligence chief on August 1, despite facing a petition against his appointment in that court and probes related to his role in the October 7 debacle.
Further, the IDF told the High Court that Binder is due to be promoted from Brig.-Gen. to Maj.-Gen. on Thursday, setting the stage for his role in such a senior position and as a member of the IDF high command.
Last week, IDF intelligence chief Maj.-Gen. Aharon Haliva was set to step down within weeks. Haliva announced his resignation back in April, and by early May, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi had announced Binger as his replacement – the number two in IDF Operations Command.
Back in April, sources said that the Haliva-Binder swap would take some time, but should take place around mid-June. At that time, the IDF was also discussing publishing its first October 7 probes by that time.
However, swapping the officials has been drawn out for longer than originally indicated, as have the October 7 probes, which, finally, came out approximately one month later than anticipated.
Subsequently, there were possible indications of arguments between Haliva and Binder over control of the conclusions of the October 7 probe and it was unclear if this was drawing out Haliva’s time in the IDF. Such arguments may also have taken place during the overlap between Haliva and Halevi.
The thinking was that Haliva, of course, wished to preserve his legacy as much as possible and blame the oblivion to the warning signs of Hamas’s invasion on the entire system – which for a decade believed Hamas was deterred and could be contained. Halevi may be readier to drop more personal blame on Haliva, which, incidentally, could lead to less blame being placed on him and his legacy.
The IDF had stridently denied that infighting is taking place, but the continued delay in Haliva exiting the IDF and Binder taking up his new role have been fodder for such allegations.
Meanwhile, there have been reports that Binder may have played a larger role in the IDF’s October 7 failure in his role as number two in the IDF Operations Command, with Halevi needing to consider whether Binder can still get the top intelligence job.
These reports have led to the current High Court petition to block Binder’s promotion.
The IDF responded to the petition on Monday, saying that no one but Halevi can determine who should be the next IDF intelligence chief and adding that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the cabinet had approved Binder’s appointment.
Unclear when court will rule
Based on that legal point, along with Binder’s decades-long resume of serving in top positions, and his key role in the Gaza invasion, but trying to sidestep questions about his role in the October 7 disaster, given that the probe results regarding his role are still a month or a few months away, the IDF asked the court to reject the petition.
It is unclear when the court will rule.
So far, Halevi has remained loyal to Binder in public, but until The Jerusalem Post’s report last week about an end to the Haliva-Binder standoff, the ongoing delay of Binder assuming his role has continued to raise red flags.
However, with a clearer deadline of mere weeks for Binder to take up his position and for Haliva to step down, much of the intrigue surrounding their relations and who controls the October 7 probe may subside.
In addition, sources told the Post that even though Binder had been appointed in May, a string of other appointments, such as Brig.-Gen. Yisrael Shomer, former commander of the 146th Division (the IDF’s largest reserve division) to replace Binder, and others filling in roles down the chain of command, drew out past early May and delayed Binder’s having time to prepare for his new position.