He said the process of appointing IDF Manpower Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Khalifa’s replacement of Bluth had begun months earlier. “The minister made it clear he was dissatisfied with Maj. Gen. Blut and made sure the tension was visible.” The rift burst into public view Sunday when Katz announced during a live television interview that Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa would replace Blut as commander of Central Command. According to the report, the announcement came before IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir had been informed, breaking with the normal practice for senior military appointments. A senior IDF officer also defended Blut’s handling of the case, saying: “Politics must not be brought into the military.