Central Command (Israel)

The Israeli Central Command ( _he. פיקוד מרכז "Pikud Merkaz"), often abbreviated to Pakmaz (פקמ"ז), is a regional command of the Israel Defense Forces. It is responsible for the units and brigades located in the West Bank (under the West Bank Division), Jerusalem, the Sharon, Gush Dan, and the Shephelah.

The commander (Aluf) of the central command is the one who is authorized to declare new cities in the Judea and Samaria Area.Cite news|url=http://www.netnet.co.il/showart.php?art_id=1144|title=Modi'in Illit Declared a City|date=2008-03-07|accessdate=2008-03-08|author=Golan, Boaz|publisher=NRG|language=Hebrew]

History

During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the Central Command was in-charge of the war efforts against Jordan, particularly on the road to Jerusalem, occupying the "Small Triangle" (east Sharon), Lod, and Ramla. During the Six-Day War, the Command led the occupation of the West Bank from Jordan. As of the First Intifada, the Command primarily engages in security and counter-terrorism activities, as well as more conventional military measures, in the West Bank.

Units

The Central Command headquarters is located at the Neve Yaakov neighborhood in Jerusalem. It is currently headed by Aluf Yair Nave.

* Central Corps HQ
* 162nd "Ha-Plada"/"The Steel" Armor Division (Regular)
** 401st "I'kvot Ha-Barzel"/"Iron Trails" Armor Brigade
** 933rd "Nahal" Infantry Brigade
** 900th "Kfir"/"Young Lion" Infantry Brigade (Battalions are operatively attached to the regional brigades in the West Bank Division)
* 98th "Ha-Esh"/"The Fire" Paratroopers Division (Reserve)
** 35th "Flying Serpent" Paratroopers Brigade (Regular)
** 226th "Ha-Nesher ha-Shahor"/"The Black Eagle" Paratroopers Brigade (Reserve)
** 551th "Hetzei Ha-Esh"/"Arrows of Fire" Paratroopers Brigade (Reserve)
** 623th "Hod Ha-Hanit"/"Head of the Spear" Paratroopers Brigade (Reserve)
** 646th "Shualey Merom"/"Sky Foxes" Paratroopers Brigade (Reserve)
* West Bank Division (Territorial)
* Two Reserve Armor Divisions, including 340th "Idan" Armored Division.
* 5004th "Central Command" Logistic Support Unit
* Central Command Signal Battalion
* Engineer & Construction Battalion
* "Nitzan"/"Bud" Field Intelligence Battalion
* "Erez" Military Police Battalion
* "Ta’oz" Military Police Battalion

Commanders

All commanders of the Central Command were ranked Aluf (Major General).

*Zvi Ayalon (1948 - 1952)
*Yosef Avidar (1952 - 1953)
*Zvi Ayalon (1954 - 1956)
*Zvi Zur (1956 - 1958)
*Meir Amit (1958 - 1959)
*Yosef Geva (1960 - 1966)
*Uzi Narkis (1966 - 1968)
*Rehav'am Ze'evi (1968 - 1972)
*Yona Efrat (1973 - 1977)
*Moshe Levi (1977 - 1981)
*Uri Or (1981 - 1983)
*Amnon Lipkin-Shahak (1983 - 1986)
*Ehud Barak (1986 - 1987)
*Amram Mitzna (1987 - 1989)
*Yitzhak Mordechai (1989 - 1991)
*Danny Yatom (1991 - 1993)
*Nehemiah Tamari (1993 - 1994) - KIA
*Danny Yatom (1994)
*Ilan Birn (1994 - 1995)
*Uzi Dayan (1996 - 1998)
*Moshe Ya'alon (1998 - 2000)
*Yitzhak Eitan (2000 - 2002)
*Moshe Kaplinsky (2002 - 2004)
*Yair Nave (2004 - 2007)

*Gadi Shamni (2007 - date)

References