IDF Maj.-Gen. Amir Baram assumed his new position as deputy chief of general staff on Monday, an IDF spokesman announced.
Baram was inducted at Camp Rabin in a ceremony attended by Defense Minister Benny Gantz and retiring IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi.
“The position of deputy chief of staff is a very significant position - Major General Amir Baram has all the necessary experience and all the depth and knowledge to succeed in it, and I am sure that this will be the case,” Gantz said at his inauguration.
Baram replaces Maj.-Gen. Hertzi Halevi, who will become the IDF's newest chief of staff, replacing Kohavi. Both Kohavi and Halevi recommended Baram to assume the position, leading Gantz to announce last Monday that would be selected.
“Amir, you complete every role with distinction… and it was only natural that you would end up in this role. Your operational experience, command experience and management style indicate that you will do an exemplary job,” Kohavi said during the ceremony.
Amir Baram’s newest position
Born in 1969, Baram enlisted in the Paratroopers Brigade in 1988 and served in a number of command positions including as commander of the elite Maglan commando unit and the brigade itself. Now only answering to the chief of staff, he will be tasked with utilizing his expertise in his new, significant role.
“The job of defending the State of Israel was and remains a difficult and demanding job."
-Amir Baram, IDF Deputy Chief of Staff
“The job of defending the State of Israel was and remains a difficult and demanding job. It is made possible thanks to the resilience and strength of the IDF - an army whose secret weapon is the people,” Baram said in his remarks.
Gantz also said that Baram was “thorough and of high quality” in his remarks last week when his appointment was announced. “He has led significant and successful operations in the northern arena in recent years, and has all the qualities required to fulfill the mission and serve as the deputy chief of staff.”
Anna Ahronheim contributed to this report.