"The government approved his appointment as chief of staff for a period of three years, with a possible extension to four years in exceptional circumstances," it said in a statement.

"Yoav Galant has proved himself in the course of 33 years of service in the front line of the Israel Defence Forces," the statement quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying.

He is to take over the post from Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi in February after the latter's term expires. The appointment required approval by the cabinet, which held its regular weekly meeting on Sunday.

Defence Minister Ehud Barak announced his nomination last month in the wake of a controversy over the circulation of a forged document aimed at discrediting Galant that kicked off the so-called "battle of the generals."

The document, which lobbied for Galant's appointment while smearing his rivals and was reportedly prepared by a public relations firm hired by the general, was leaked to a television channel.

Ashkenazi has said no member of the general staff was involved and police found that the document was a fake.

As head of the southern command, Galant oversaw the devastating December 2008-January 2009 war in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip that cost the lives of 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.

A subsequent investigation by the UN Human Rights Council found that both Israel and Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during the 22-day offensive aimed at halting rocket attacks from the territory.

Israel slammed the so-called Goldstone report, which it said was biased against the Jewish state.

But following Galant's nomination the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem called for a thorough review of his role in the fighting.

Other leading candidates for the military's top job were Major General Benny Gantz, Ashkenazi's deputy, and Major General Gadi Eizenkot who heads the army's northern command.

"The decision was a hard one," Barak's office quoted him as telling cabinet colleagues before the vote. "All the candidates are worthy, talented, deeply experienced; men of the highest attributes."

Ashkenazi, the current chief of staff, was appointed in February 2007 in the wake of Israel's disastrous 2006 war on the Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon.

Galant was born on November 8, 1958 in the mixed Arab-Jewish neighbourhood of Jaffa, which now forms part of Tel Aviv.

He joined the navy's Flotilla 13 commando unit, rising through the ranks to become its commander from 1994 to 1997. The unit carried out the May 31 raid on an aid ship bound for Gaza in which nine Turkish activists were killed.

In 2005, Galant was appointed to head Israel's southern command.

He is married with three children and holds a degree in business and financial management.

earlier related report
Israel's next military chief linked to war crime allegations
Jerusalem (AFP) Sept 5, 2010 - Major General Yoav Galant, who on Sunday was named as Israel's next military chief, is a former special forces commander and one-time lumberjack who is linked to allegations of war crimes.

Galant, 51, was confirmed by the government as the next chief of staff and will replace incumbent Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi in February.

As the army's commander for southern Israel, he oversaw the devastating December 2008-January 2009 offensive in the Gaza Strip in which 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed.

A UN probe said both Israel and Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during the 22-day campaign, which Israel launched in response to rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave.

After Galant was nominated last month, pending formal cabinet approval, Israeli human rights group B'Tselem called for thorough scrutiny of his role in the Gaza campaign, codenamed "Operation Cast Lead".

"Galant's suitability for the position must be considered in light of his responsibility for suspected violations of human rights during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip, which he commanded," B'Tselem said in a statement.

The group said that investigations into the operation had focused on rank and file soldiers and that there was a need for an inquiry into the conduct of senior commanders.

"Such an independent investigation may have direct implications for assessing Major General Galant's ability to lead the army while maintaining a proper moral code," it concluded.

Galant was born on November 8, 1958 in the mixed Arab-Jewish neighbourhood of Jaffa, part of Tel Aviv.

His mother, Fruma, arrived in British-ruled Palestine on the famed Exodus ship as a 12-year-old refugee from Nazi-occupied Poland, according to published accounts.

In 1977 Yoav Galant joined the navy's Flotilla 13 commando unit as a conscript. After six years he left to seek new experiences and spent two years as a lumberjack in Alaska, according to the YNet news website.

He then rejoined the navy, rising through the ranks to eventually become Flotilla 13's commander from 1994 to 1997.

The normally shadowy unit was thrust into the spotlight this year when its members carried out a May 31 raid on an activist ship seeking to break Israel's Gaza blockade in which nine Turks were killed.

Prior to heading the commando force he took the unusual step of transferring to the army for a year, commanding an infantry brigade in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, evidently with an eye on his future career.

YNet quoted him as telling his commanding officer at the time that he wanted "to get to know the ground forces from up close."

In 2001 he moved to the army for good, retraining in the armoured corps and becoming its commanding officer.

In 2005, Galant was appointed head of southern command, which covers the Gaza Strip and the Egyptian border region.

His wife Claudine, who he met during his time in the navy, was a lieutenant colonel in the service, YNet said.

They have three children -- a son who is an officer, a daughter who recently began her compulsory military service and a second daughter in high school.

Galant holds a degree in business and financial management.

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