Commander of the Israeli Navy

Commander of the Israeli Navy
מפקד זרוע הים
Incumbent
Vice admiral Eyal Harel
since 16 April 2026
 Israeli Navy
Member ofGeneral Staff of the IDF
Reports toChief of the General Staff
Appointer
  • Chief of the General Staff
Formation17 March 1948
First holderGershon Zak
Websitewww.idf.il/en/minisites/general-staff/

The Commander of the Israeli Navy is the head and highest-ranking officer of the Israeli Navy, and is responsible for overall operations of the navy. The current Commander is Vice Admiral Eyal Harel.

List of officeholders

No.Picture NameTook officeLeft officeTime in officeRef.
1
Gershon Zak
Zak, GershonGershon Zak
(1913–1989)		17 March 1948April 19491 year
2
Paul Shulman
Shulman, PaulPaul Shulman
(1922–1994)		April 1949May 19491 month
3
Shlomo Shamir
Shamir, ShlomoAluf
Shlomo Shamir
(1915–2009)		May 1949December 19501 year, 7 months
4
Mordechai Limon
Limon, MordechaiAluf
Mordechai Limon
(1924–2009)		14 December 195030 June 19543 years, 6 months
5
Shmuel Tankus
Tankus, ShmuelAluf
Shmuel Tankus
(1914–2012)		1 July 195419605–6 years
6
Yohai Ben-Nun
Ben, YohaiAluf
Yohai Ben-Nun
(1924–1994)		196019665–6 years
7
Shlomo Erell
Erell, ShlomoAluf
Shlomo Erell
(1920–2018)		January 1966September 19682 years, 8 months
8
Avraham Botzer
Botzer, AvrahamAluf
Avraham Botzer
(1929–2012)		September 19681 September 19724 years
9
Benjamin Telem
Telem, BenjaminAluf
Benjamin Telem
(1928–2008)		1 September 197219763–4 years
10
Michael Barkai
Barkai, MichaelAluf
Michael Barkai
(1935–1999)		197610 January 19792–3 years
11
Ze'ev Almog
Almog, Ze'evAluf
Ze'ev Almog
(born 1935)		10 January 1979February 19856 years
12
Avraham Ben-Shoshan
Ben, AvrahamAluf
Avraham Ben-Shoshan
(born 1940)		February 198519893–4 years
13
Micha Ram
Ram, MichaAluf
Micha Ram
(1942–2018)		198919922–3 years
14
Ami Ayalon
Ayalon, AmiAluf
Ami Ayalon
(born 1945)		199219952–3 years
15
Alex Tal
Tal, AlexAluf
Alex Tal
(born 1946)		199519993–4 years
16
Yedidya Ya'ari
Ya'ari, YedidyaAluf
Yedidya Ya'ari
(born 1947)		1999September 20044–5 years
17
David Ben-Besht
Ben, DavidAluf
David Ben-Besht
(born 1950)		September 200420072–3 years
18
Eli Marom
Marom, EliAluf
Eli Marom
(born 1955)		200720113–4 years
19
Ram Rothberg
Rothberg, RamAluf
Ram Rothberg
(born 1964)		10 October 201112 September 20164 years, 11 months
20
Eli Sharvit
Sharvit, EliAluf
Eli Sharvit
(born 1964)		12 September 20162 September 20214 years, 11 months
21
David Saar Salama
Salama, DavidAluf
David Saar Salama
(born 1969)		2 September 202116 April 20264 years, 7 months
22
Eyal Harel
Harel, EyalAluf
Eyal Harel
(born 1974)		16 April 2026Incumbent6 months

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Israeli Navy: Navy Commanders-in-Chief". JEWISH VIRTUAL LIBRARY. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  2. ↑ "Israeli Navy Commander Ousted After Winning Acquittal in Rape". The New York Times. 10 January 1979. p. 7. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  3. ↑ "Maj. Gen. Marom: Israel Navy capable of operating in distant theaters" (Press release). IDF Spokesperson. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  4. ↑ "New Israeli Navy head: Major-General Eli Sharvit". JerusalemOnline. 12 September 2016. Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  5. ↑ Gross, Judah Ari (12 September 2016). "IDF gets new top sailor, as Eisenkot makes fresh appointments". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  6. ↑ "דרגות אלוף הוענקו לתא"ל דוד סער סלמה הנכנס לתפקידו כמפקד זרוע הים". 2021-09-01. Archived from the original on 2021-09-01. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  7. ↑ "Rear Adm. Eyal Haral Assumes Command of Israeli Navy". Ynetglobal. 2026-04-16. Retrieved 2026-04-16.