Israel picks Gaza war commander as new military chief

The Israeli cabinet on Sunday confirmed as armed forces chief Major General Yoav Galant, who directed Israel's 2008-2009 Gaza war, the prime minister's office said. As head of the southern command, Galant oversaw the devastating December 2008-January 2009 war in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip that cost the lives of 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis. A subsequent investigation by the UN Human Rights Council found that both Israel and Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during the 22-day offensive. "The government approved his appointment as chief of staff for a period of three years, with a possible extension to four years in exceptional circumstances," the Israeli cabinet said in a statement. "Yoav Galant has proved himself in the course of 33 years of service in the front line of the Israel Defense Forces," the statement quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying. Source: Agence France-Presse