ABSTRACT
The chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz, completed his military service and was appointed defence minister in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's first government. The attempt to reach public office by someone who 'only a few months earlier was in uniform and bore the rank of lieutenant general raises concern that decisions he made in the recent past within the framework of his military or security office, were influenced by his political views'. To fully grasp the complexity of the government's legal authority as supreme commander of the Israel Defence Forces it must be kept in mind that political-military relations in Israel are based on the 'informal nature' of the political system and culture. Netanyahu brushed aside the CGS and replaced him with a general who was considered a more professional and less political officer Shaul Mofaz. Defence minister Yitzhak Mordechai, was also replaced toward the end of the administration.
