Brigadier-General Ofir Winter, who is currently serving as Military Secretary to Prime Minister/Defense Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, has been appointed to head the IDF’s 98th Division, known as the Fire Division, which is made of soldiers who come from the paratroopers.

Winter was passed over in the last round of appointments for combat command posts as former IDF Gadi Eizenkott vetoed his promotion. Eizenkott also opposed appointing him as military secretary to the defense minister, but Netanyahu did so, nonetheless.

Winter, a graduate of the Bnei David Mechina Yeshiva in Yishuv Eli, is perhaps best known for his command of the Givati Brigade, and his address to soldiers before entering battle in Gaza, telling them that they were shluchim of HKBH, eliciting the ire of the anti-religious and leftists alike. He has paid a heavy price for speaking him truth but remains loyal to his dati beliefs.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu wished Winter “good luck” and stated he is confident “he will lead them to victory”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)