Within minutes after IDF Chief of Staff LTG Herzi Halevi submitted a letter of resignation to Defense Minister Israel Katz, the Commanding Officer of the Southern Command, MG Yaron Finkelman did the same thing.
Finkelman informed the Chief of the General Staff that he, too, had decided to end his service in the IDF.
Both came up through the ranks as paratroopers.
“On October 7, I failed to defend the Western Negev and its beloved, heroic residents,” Finkelman wrote. “This failure is burned into me for the rest of my life.
“Out of responsibility to the State of Israel, I have since acted to lead the war on Hamas and the terrorist organizations in Gaza.
“In this war, we dealt a severe blow to the Hamas organization. We must continue to strike the enemy, return our hostages to their homes and the communities to their rightful place of security and prosperity,” he wrote.
Unlike Halevi, however, Finkelman did not specify the date his resignation would take effect.
“I will continue my mission as long as I am needed,” he said.
