Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said he had appointed Brig. Gen. Guy Markizeno as his next military secretary, a move that also released a six-month blockage on the appointment of Israel’s next defense attaché to the United States.

Markizeno, who currently serves as the military secretary to the defense minister, succeeds Roman Gofman, who this week entered the role of Mossad director.

In a statement, Netanyahu said he’d notified Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir of his decision.

Markizeno will be promoted to the rank of major general upon entering the role of military secretary to the prime minister, which had remained vacant for several days.

Netanyahu said Markizeno “has acquired extensive experience in coordinating between the political echelon and the military echelon, and therefore will be able to assume his position immediately without the need for a transition period.”

Markizeno, 47, began his military service in the Artillery Corps, where he rose through the ranks and commanded two regiments. He later served as head of planning in the IDF Ground Forces and as chief of staff of the Northern Command, before being appointed military secretary to the defense minister, first under Yoav Gallant and later under Israel Katz.

It remains unclear who will succeed Markizeno........

© The Times of Israel