💊 PHARMACISTS SUSPECTED OF STEALING MEDICATIONS INTENDED FOR IDF SOLDIERS: Two veteran pharmacists working as external Ministry of Defense contractors at Glilot Camp were arrested on suspicion of fraudulently taking tens of thousands of medications intended for IDF soldiers and systematically selling them on the black market.
Investigators say some were prescription medications and that the suspects allegedly pocketed tens of thousands of shekels. The arrests followed a months-long undercover investigation by Ministry of Defense security investigators, the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division and the Health Ministry’s Enforcement Division.
The two are suspected of theft, aggravated fraud, reckless and negligent conduct and additional offenses under Israel’s Pharmacists Ordinance. Additional suspects were also detained for questioning.
🇮🇱 BAR KALIFA NAMED NEXT CENTRAL COMMAND CHIEF; HISTORIC ARTILLERY APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED: Following the Katz-Blut controversy, Defense Minister Israel Katz approved IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir’s recommendation to appoint Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as the next commander of Central Command. He is expected to assume the post in 2027, “subject to an operational situation assessment.”
Bar Kalifa currently heads the Personnel Directorate and previously commanded the 36th Division during months of fighting against Hamas in Gaza.
Zamir also announced a broader round of senior appointments, including three new brigadier generals and 11 new colonels. Two brigadier generals and 23 colonels will move to new roles at their current ranks, while another 19 senior officers are being sent to studies between assignments.
The additional appointments remain subject to Katz’s approval and include commanders for the Military Intelligence Special Operations Division, the Givati, Nahal and Paratroopers brigades, and key positions in the Air Force and Navy.
Col. Efrat Kaykov is set to become the first woman to command the standing army’s 282nd Artillery Regiment. Kaykov currently commands the 213th Reserve Artillery Regiment, previously served as deputy commander of the 282nd and was also the first woman to command an Artillery Corps battalion.
🔸 SMOTRICH-FEIGLIN TALKS ADVANCE AS WINTER FALLS BELOW THRESHOLD IN THREE POLLS: The remaining point of contention in the emerging Smotrich-Feiglin alliance is reportedly whether Smotrich’s representative will receive the 11th position and Feiglin the 12th, or vice versa.
At the same time, Bennett and Eisenkot continued examining the possibility of a merger within their bloc.
A new poll following the emerging Smotrich-Feiglin alliance shows Ofer Winter failing to cross the electoral threshold. Three polls on three channels within 24 hours now place Winter below the threshold. In the scenarios cited, Winter crosses only if Smotrich runs independently or in hypothetical merger scenarios involving Ben Gvir or Likud.
🔹 SEGALOVICH EXPLAINS DECISION TO JOIN RA’AM: Yoav Segalovich, the first Jewish member of Ra’am, said: “I have no intention of changing Mansour or Ra’am, and they will not change me. But we can cooperate politically on the basis of trust, recognition of our differences, and a commitment to working together. There is baggage from the past, and there is a bloody history. We cannot change the past because it is an established fact. The role of leadership is to change reality and create a better future.”
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