Brig. Gen. Eliezer Soholitzki took over as Head of the Naval Operations Division, replacing Brig. Gen. Amir Gutman, who served in this role for the past year and a half and will conclude his 32-year service in the IDF.
The handover ceremony took place yesterday (Tuesday) at Rabin Camp, Kirya, presided over by the Commander of the Navy, Maj. Gen. David Saar Salama, with the participation of additional commanders and families.
Commander of the Navy, Maj. Gen. David Saar Salama, said: “We operate a lot, where we are not seen. We operate far, where it is not always understood. We operate deeply – where we are not always expected, and in every mission – the result must be clear, sharp, and decisive. The change of command of the division at this time is not just an organizational event, it is a moment of leadership continuity. Continuity, during wartime, is a condition for victory.”
“Gutman, you carried the heaviest responsibility – during the most complex time, you led the division at the heart of the campaign, under pressure, under uncertainty, and you repeatedly chose to act, to decide, to lead. Leadership is tested in moments when there is no time to hesitate, and you proved time and again that there is someone to rely on. Beyond being a professional and precise commander – you have a very human command style,” added the Commander of the Navy.
“Eli, you are entering a role that is among the most complex and influential in the Navy, perhaps in the entire IDF. This is a role that requires deep understanding, the ability to think ahead while in motion, to make decisions even when there is no complete picture. I know you, I trust you, and I am confident in you. You have the experience, the judgment, and the moral backbone to lead the Naval Operations Division forward – with strength, responsibility, and humility,” he said.
The outgoing Head of the Naval Operations Division, Brig. Gen. Amir Gutman, said: “Today I conclude 32 years that built me, taught me, challenged me, but certainly constituted the most significant part of my life. The operational headquarters has undergone many changes in recent years – the forces of the Navy are carrying out security on the borders, defending strategic assets, and guarding the country’s shores, operating twenty-four hours a day.”
“It was not planned for me to depart at the end of Holocaust Remembrance Day, but one war led to another, and here I stand today, concluding on this very day. I grew up on my grandparents’ stories and matured into the understanding that this country must not be given up. Commander of the Navy, this is also an emotional week for you.”
“On this occasion, I will express my appreciation for your command during wartime. You have proven time and again resilience and adaptability that only a few commanders possess. I appreciate your patience and leadership during the difficult and challenging moments we have experienced, alongside all professional appreciation. I want to thank you for your friendship, for your support, and for our collaborative work based on trust. To Socho and his family – from observing from the side and knowing you not only as an excellent officer but primarily as a friend, I am glad that you are the one entering this sensitive and complex role,” added Brig. Gen. Amir Gutman.
“Your abilities and skills are well-known and precede you, and I have no doubt that you will lead the division and the operational activities of the Navy with a strong, precise, and systematic hand. Your success is the success of the entire Navy. I will carry with me the hardship, sorrow, and pain of all those we failed to protect. We must continue to be worthy of the people of Israel.”
The incoming Head of the Naval Operations Division, Brig. Gen. Eliezer Soholitzki, concluded: “I believe that in this period, as we operate in various sectors, we cannot look at the individual but must look at this team. And this team is committed to the people of Israel. In line with this, I want to thank you for the trust placed in me, for receiving the baton from Gutman, who is handing over with high excellence under impossible challenges during the past few days. I want to note the end of Holocaust Remembrance Day – this is what drives us from the diaphragm outwards.”
“We understand that we are part of a great intergenerational chain. We understand that we have no other land, and we understand more than anything that it is not a given. To Gutman, I want to say thank you for our long-standing friendship, for your character, honesty, and authenticity in a way that amazes me every time, and especially for your love of people.”
For the Commanders’ Biographies
For the Full Speech of the Commander of the Navy, Maj. Gen. David Saar Salama
For the Full Speech of the Outgoing Head of the Naval Operations Division, Brig. Gen. Amir Gutman