Col. Ala Abu Rukon will be appointed Military Secretary to the President of the State of Israel in the rank of Brigadier-General, according to a decision by President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin together with Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Binyamin Netanyahu and the IDF Chief of Staff Lt-Gen Aviv Cochavi.
Col. Abu Rukon will replace Brig-Gen Boaz Hershkovitz who has served in the role for the past three years.
Abu Rukon, currently serving as the IDF Military Attache in China, is 47 and a resident of Usfiya. He is married and the father of four children, and holds a PhD in Middle East Studies from Bar-Ilan University.
Abu Rukon has served in the IDF for 25 years, beginning as a soldier and commander in the Paratroops Brigade, and continuing in a series of command posts in the Intelligence Branch for many years.
In addition, Abu Rukon has commanded the Havat Hashomer IDF base.
President Rivlin congratulated Abu Rukon on the appointment and said, “He is an impressive and professional addition to the team of advisers at the Presidential Residence. I am confident that his experience and skills will further deepen the strong ties with the IDF and the whole security establishment.”