In recent years, Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi served as Military Intelligence chief and analyzed the threats facing Israel on its northern border. Now, his job will be to protect Israeli citizens from those threats. In a ceremony in Safed attended by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz on Sunday, Kochavi replaced Maj. Gen. Yair Golan as GOC Northern Command. "The northern front is at the center of the storm raging in the Middle East," Kochavi said. "This area shows the struggle between religions, ethnic groups and superpowers and [the area] has become more out of control, more Islamist and more violent. All of this ensures continued instability on the [northern] front. The radical axis of Iran, Syria and Hezbollah may be joined by other terrorist groups, drenched with ideological extremism, who could change their goals and turn the State of Israel into a target. We must continue to prepare our forces...in a manner that will lead to a response that is surprising, powerful and unequivocal in terms of its result." Kochavi's predecessor, Golan, served as GOC Northern Command for three years. Golan is considered to be a leading candidate to replace Maj. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot as deputy chief of staff. Eizenkot is a front-runner to become the next chief of staff when Gantz's term ends in February. Gantz also spoke at Sunday's ceremony, saying, "Those who seek to harm us must know that we are continuing to monitor events across the border. Our readiness could be tested at any moment, and when that time comes, we will act with the necessary precision and strength." Speaking about the volatile situation on the border with Syria, a Northern Command official said on Sunday that the IDF has the ability to prevent the fighting between Assad regime forces and rebel groups in Syria from spilling over the border. However, the official noted, this ability is limited, and there is no guarantee that, in the future, fighting will not get close to the border in a way that would endanger Israeli farmers. The official said that, as of now, no attacks have been launched against the IDF from areas in Syria under the control of moderate rebel groups. The cross-border attacks that have taken place were organized by Assad supporters, such as the Druze from the town of Hader, located near the border. The official said the IDF has given considerable humanitarian assistance to the Syrian civilian population in the border area, including food, clothing and even fuel. The IDF, the official said, has not conditioned the aid on cooperation from moderate rebel groups on the Syrian side of the border.
