Defense Minister Israel Katz has appointed Brig. Gen. Hisham Ibrahim as his new military secretary – one of the most senior posts in Israel’s defense establishment. Ibrahim, one of the highest-ranking Druze officers in the IDF, takes up the role with immediate effect, succeeding Maj. Gen. Guy Markizeno, who was appointed military secretary to Prime Minister Netanyahu last week.
From head of the Civil Administration to the minister’s inner circle
Ibrahim most recently headed the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria – the Defense Ministry body that, under the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), regulates much of civilian life in the area. The appointment followed a personal interview between Katz and Ibrahim and was made on the recommendation of IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. Katz congratulated Ibrahim and expressed confidence that he would succeed in his new role during what he called a “challenging and significant security period” for the State of Israel.
As military secretary, Ibrahim will join Katz’s closest circle of advisers and be responsible for ongoing coordination between the Defense Ministry and the IDF leadership – a position of considerable influence, as the military secretary accompanies the minister to nearly all security briefings and serves as the central interface with the army.
A career in the armored corps – and a symbolic rise
Ibrahim’s military career has included a series of senior command posts: he served as Chief Armor Officer, commanded the 460th and 205th Brigades, and served as deputy commander of the 91st Division on the northern border. In 2022, he became one of the highest-ranking Druze officers to lead the entire Armored Corps – a post of central importance to Israel’s armored units.
The appointment of a Druze general to one of the closest positions of trust to the defense minister also carries symbolic weight. Israel’s Druze community – concentrated mainly in the Carmel region and the Golan Heights – has traditionally been one of the most loyal population groups toward the state and has for decades supplied a disproportionate number of officers to IDF combat units. Druze soldiers and officers have served in virtually every Israeli war, and their representation in leadership positions is often seen in Israel as an expression of the “blood covenant” between Druze and Jews.
The change at the top of the military secretariats is part of a broader rotation: just weeks ago, Roman Gofman was appointed the new Mossad chief, prompting Markizeno – until then Katz’s military secretary – to move to Netanyahu’s office. With Ibrahim’s appointment, the resulting gap in the defense minister’s office is now filled, at a time when Israel is active on multiple fronts simultaneously and coordination between political and military leadership matters more than ever.
