Brig.-Gen. Micky Edelstein to take over from Brig.-Gen. Yosi Becher as military figure responsible for nation’s most volatile border.
By YAAKOV LAPPINMaj.-Gen. Tal Russo appoints Brig.-Gen. Micky Edelstein(photo credit: IDF Spokesman’s Office)
The IDF appointed a new Gaza Division commander on Sunday evening, naming Brig.-Gen. Micky Edelstein as the military figure responsible for the nation’s most volatile border.OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Tal Russo appointed Edelstein to replace Brig.- Gen. Yosi Becher during a ceremony in the South.“The Southern Command, [and] the Gaza Division, you are the commanders and combat soldiers who are ready at any time... to protect the State of Israel’s southern border and provide peace and quiet, support and routine life as much as possible to citizens,” Russo said during the ceremony.“At this time, like every day of the year, our soldiers are on standby on the border, standing against our enemies and against anyone who wants to violate the security of the state,” Russo added.The Gaza border experiences frequent attacks by a host of Gazan terrorist factions, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and smaller organizations. The attacks take the form of mortar fire, explosives (such as the one which seriously injured an IDF officer last month) rocket fire and machine gun attacks, as well as attempts to cross the border into Israel.A Gaza man who approached the Israeli border and ignored calls by soldiers to stop was shot dead overnight Monday.Palestinian medical sources said the man suffered from a mental condition.
