Major General Eyal Harel assumed command of the Navy, replacing Major General David Saar Salama, who served in this role for the past four and a half years and will conclude his 39-year service in the IDF.
The change of command ceremony took place today (Thursday) at the Atlit base, presided over by the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi, and attended by commanders, soldiers, families, and other guests.
The Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi, said: “‘And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right and on their left,’ is written in the Book of Exodus. This describes one of the formative moments in our people’s history – a moment when the Jewish people began to take their destiny into their own hands.
“Today, thousands of years later, the words of the verse resonate with renewed power. Throughout the generations, we have been forced to fight for our existence, to preserve our identity, and to defend our right to live as a free people in our land. Even after the establishment of the State of Israel, the threats have not ceased, and we have been required time and again to stand at the forefront and ensure the security of the state and its citizens.”
“Faced with calls for Israel’s destruction and a growing existential threat – we knew we would not stand idly by. In cooperation with the United States, we launched the historic operations ‘With the Lion’ and ‘The Lion’s Roar.’ With unprecedented force – we struck at the heart of the system that the Iranian regime of evil and its proxies have been building for decades against the State of Israel. We are removing threats and fortifying our security for years to come. Our enemies, near and far, their proxies in Tehran and Sana’a, in Beirut and in Gaza, all of them, have learned that anyone who dares to threaten and harm us will pay a heavy price.”
“David, from your days in the naval command, your determined character, your values, and your leadership abilities stood out, guiding you throughout your service in the corps. From your days as a young officer, a combat team commander in Southern Lebanon and Judea and Samaria, to commanding various bases and the entire naval command – you always excelled at seeing the human element on board and submerged, nurturing and strengthening the human capital in the navy.”
“Eyal, you arrive mature and ready to command the Navy and lead it in the coming years. You rose through the ranks of naval officers, commanded naval bases, soldiers, and many fighters – you went through operational staff roles – many years have prepared you for this moment. Along the way, you have demonstrated broad systemic vision; in your last role, you unified the Planning Directorate back into a unified, influential, and proactive directorate.”
“Now, with the change of command, the Navy will continue to stand guard – alert and determined, ensuring the defense of the State of Israel, its maritime domains, and our coastlines, preserving its freedom and fortifying its security. Go forth and succeed,” he concluded his speech.
The outgoing Navy Commander, Major General David Saar Salama, said in his speech: “A time of war, a time of peace, and now also a time of farewell. I stand here before you, trying to summarize the role of my life in words. Here, on the coast of Atlit, where my life’s journey began, I am closing a circle and saying goodbye. A direct line connects you to my journey log. A journey that lasted 39 years, during which I primarily had the privilege.”
“I was privileged to undergo a journey of maturation and development, of deep learning, of sharpening and shaping worldviews. I was privileged to undergo a journey of command under operational stress, of fateful decisions, of daily contact with strategic logic. I was privileged to undergo a journey that instilled in me meaning and values, that anchored me with roots – as a person and as a commander. And above all, I was privileged in my personal journey to grow in a groundbreaking, exceptionally value-driven organization that is a central pillar of Israel’s national security.”
“Dear bereaved families, our shared strength is the memory of the fallen. In every encounter with you, I came to strengthen and left strengthened. Strengthened by the spirit, the power, and the giving, accompanied by a feeling of immense pride. Know that the strength I drew upon in commanding the Navy during the war also came from you. I promise that the memory of the sons and daughters who fell will continue to be our compass.”
“Navy personnel, we have endless memories together. Operations, experiences, encounters, moments that left a mark. Feelings of great satisfaction alongside pain, immense pride, heroism, highs and lows, calm seas and storms.”
“Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi, thank you for your trust, for your guidance, for true friendship and partnership. Thank you for the way you lead the IDF, with leadership and responsibility, in the face of challenges and complexities of the greatest that the State of Israel has known. Thank you for your advice, personal example, the right word, and especially for camaraderie.”
“Eyal, with feelings of pride, I hand over the helm of command to you. You are receiving a strong, sharp, and determined Navy. A Navy that is aware of the depth of its mission. I am confident that you will lead the Navy forward, to distant horizons, to new achievements. I stand here before you today for the last time as your commander – and salute. You have given me a life’s journey. I am proud of you. I believe in you. I am sure of your abilities. Go forth, sail, dare, conquer – and return safely to the home ports. Thank you.”
The incoming Navy Commander, Major General Eyal Harel, addressed the gathering: “With a sense of mission, in light of the gravity of the hour and the weight of responsibility – I accept upon myself today the command of the Navy, and return to the place where I grew and was raised, and to the dear and beloved personnel of the Navy.”
“In these days between Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day and Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel, leading up to Independence Day, I think about the landscape of my homeland and the roots from which I grew, and they are present with me here on this stage.”
“Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, we have risen from a deep fracture to tremendous achievements in all arenas. The State of Israel is currently engaged in a complex multi-arena campaign with unprecedented historical successes. We are changing the face of the Middle East! The Navy’s ships and our fighters will strike our enemies wherever they threaten the citizens of Israel, freedom of navigation, and our strategic assets at sea.”
“We will strengthen and exert our offensive power together with the IDF’s other branches. We will fulfill our purpose as a strategic arm of the IDF, operating in the nearby, deep, and distant arenas of the world – and all this based on a fundamental fact: no place is too far for the Navy.”
“As I conclude my remarks, I would like to thank you – the Chief of Staff. For the trust you have placed in me – along with the Minister of Defense – in appointing me to this role. I would like to wish you – David, the outgoing Navy Commander – great success in your future path, and I thank you for 39 years of service, including commanding the Navy during a multi-arena campaign.”
“I wish to conclude my remarks with a speedy recovery wish for the IDF wounded and an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those who are no longer with us but whose spirit always accompanies us, my brothers in arms, fallen naval heroes, whose bravery and self-sacrifice allow us to live here in this country and contribute our part to its defense.”
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