It was reported over the weekend that Brigadier-General Ofir Winter turned to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gadi Eizenkott and requested to be appointed military secretary to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Eizenkott has announced that he has presented the prime minister with a number of candidates, and Winter is not on the list and he does not intend to appoint him to the post.

It was then reported that Winter informed Eizenkott if he is not appointed to the post, he will be retiring from the military.

Later in the day, after Shabbos, Winter clarified events, stating he did not request the post and did not indicate he would retire if not given the appointment. He added that he does not make a habit of responding to rumors. He reaffirmed his belief in the IDF and stated he will continue serving the citizens of Israel just as he has during the past 27 years, in whatever position he is assigned.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)