Officer rebuked for missile boat disaster named new navy chief

Defense Minister Ehud Barak has appointed Brig. Gen. Ram Rotberg to be the next commander of the Israel Navy. Rotberg's career has been marred by an incident during the 2006 Second Lebanon War when four sailors were killed primarily due to an intelligence failure.

On July 14, 2006, two days after the outbreak of the war, the Hanit (“Spearhead”) Israel Navy vessel was hit by a Chinese C-802 anti-ship missile fired by Hezbollah when it was 30 kilometers off the coast of Beirut. Investigations concluded that the Hanit neglected intelligence regarding Hezbollah's anti-ship capability and, at the time, had its anti-missile countermeasures turned off. Four sailors – Staff Sgt. Shal Amgar, Sgt. 1st Class Dov Steinshuss, Sgt. Shai Atas and Sgt. Yaniv Hershkovitz – were killed, and the ship suffered significant damage.

The possibility of an Israeli ship being hit by a missile of such sophistication had been seen as exaggerated, and a report made by a senior military intelligence officer three years before the war detailing Iranian arms shipments to Hezbollah was not concrete enough to convince naval commanders otherwise. The Hanit sailed to the coast of Beirut with its variety of anti-missile systems on standby, a measure meant to preserve power but never to be used during a perceived threat.

A probe into the incident concluded that the Navy had failed to realize it was at war, and Rotberg was reprimanded by then-IDF Chief of General Staff Dan Halutz. But he was soon promoted to head the main naval base in Haifa.

“His [Rotberg's] appointment is proof that even officers who make mistakes can advance as long as they are competent, professional and qualified,” defense officials said in response to objections to Rotberg's appointment.

Rotberg has enjoyed an otherwise distinguished military career. He previously served as commander of the naval commando unit Shayetet 13 as well as of the elite urban counter-terrorism unit Duvdevan. Rotberg was promoted over Navy Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Rani Ben Yehuda.

Rotberg will replace Navy Commander Maj. Gen. Eliezer Marom, who is resigning from the Israel Defense Forces after 37 years of service. Marom commanded dozens of missions, some of them covert, although he will likely be best remembered for commanding the raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara during the Gaza Strip flotilla in May 2010, which resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish nationals and severe international condemnation of Israel. Marom also made headlines two and a half years ago after admitting to attending a strip bar.

Rotberg's appointment is one of a slew made Thursday by Barak and Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz. Current operations head Brig. Gen. Kobi Barak will be promoted to major general and will become head of the Technological and Logistics Directorate, replacing resigning Maj. Gen. Danny Biton. Brig. Gen. Uzi Moskowitz will be promoted to major general and will become head of C4I (communications), replacing Maj. Gen. Ami Shafran. Brig. Gen. Yossi Baidatz, who until recently was head of the Military Intelligence Research Division, will replace Maj. Gen. Gershon Hacohen as commander of the Military Colleges.

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