Israel�s defense minister has selected Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi as the nominee for the country�s next chief of staff.

His nomination requires approval from an appointments committee and by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu�s Cabinet. If approved, Kochavi will start on Jan. 1.

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman�s office said in a statement on Friday that Kochavi was �the most appropriate, distinguished and experienced� to serve as the next head of the Israeli military.

Current army chief Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot will step down from his post on Dec. 31, after a nearly four-year stint as Israel�s top officer. Usually, Israel�s army chiefs serve up to four years.

The 54-year-old Kochavi previously served as commander of military intelligence, chief of northern command and most recently as Eisenkot�s deputy chief of staff.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met this morning with IDF Maj.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi pursuant to the latter's selection as the next IDF Chief-of-Staff.
The two discussed at length the Prime Minister's 2030 security concept. pic.twitter.com/Pwy2RmP7ph

— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 29, 2018

(AP)