Avi Bluth
{{short description|Israeli Brigadier General|bot = }}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Abraham Ahron Bluth
| native_name = {{Script/Hebrew|אַבְרָהָם (אָבִי) אַהֲרֹן בְּלוּט}}
| native_name_lang = he
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Israel
| death_place =
| placeofburial =
| placeofburial_label = Place of burial
| image = Avi Bluth. V (cropped).jpg
| caption = Avi Blut, July 2018
| nickname = Avi
| allegiance = {{Flag icon|Israel}} Israel
| religion = Orthodox Judaism
| serviceyears = 1993–
| rank = 25px Aluf (Major general)
| branch = 25px Israel Defense Forces
| commands = *101st "Peten" paratroop battalion
- Maglan Unit
- Judea Regional Brigade
- Reserve Paratroopers Brigade
- 89th Commando Brigade
- Judea and Samaria Division
| unit =
| battles = * South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)
- First Intifada
- Second Intifada
- Operation Defensive Shield
- 2006 Lebanon War
- Operation Cast Lead
- Operation Pillar of Defense
- Operation Protective Edge
| awards =
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2018}}
Abraham (Avi) Ahron Bluth ({{langx|he|אַבְרָהָם (אָבִי) אַהֲרֹן בְּלוּט}}; born 1974) is an Israeli Major general (Aluf), who currently heads the Central Command.
Previously, he commanded the 101st Paratrooper battalion, 89th Commando Brigade, the Judea Regional Brigade, and the Judea and Samaria Division.
Biography and military service
Bluth was born in Jerusalem to Efraim and Shoshana.{{Cite web |date=2018-07-17 |title=אל"מ וקוץ בו: הכירו את המזכיר הצבאי החדש של נתניהו |url=https://www.makorrishon.co.il/news/63663/ |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=Makor Rishon |language=he-IL}} He lived in the West Bank settlement of Neve Tzuf. He was drafted into the IDF in 1993. He volunteered as a paratrooper in the Paratroopers Brigade, and in 1995 became an infantry officer after completing Officer Candidate School. Bluth served as a platoon leader at the 890 paratroop battalion and fought in South Lebanon. Later on he commanded the 101st "Peten" paratrooper battalion during Operation Cast Lead in which he was injured. Afterwards he commanded Maglan Unit.{{Cite web |last=Finkel |first=Gal Perl |date=2018-08-09 |title=Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water |url=https://www.jpost.com/opinion/dont-throw-out-the-baby-with-the-bath-water-564453 |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}} His next position was as the commander of the Judea Regional Brigade. Later on he commanded a reserve Paratroopers Brigade. In 2017, he was appointed as the commander of the 89th Commando Brigade and in 2018 he was chosen to be the next Military Secretary to the Prime Minister.{{Cite web |last=Ahronheim |first=Anna |date=2018-07-17 |title=Netanyahu appoints Col. Avi Blot as new military secretary |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/pm-appoints-col-avi-blot-as-new-military-secretary-562715 |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}} While serving as the Military Secretary to the Prime Minister, he was reprimanded by the Chief of the General Staff, Gadi Eisenkot on January 4, 2019, for not delivering on time the Prime Minister's directive to delay the evacuation of Amona.{{Cite web |date=4 January 2019 |title=פינוי עמונה: הערה פיקודית למזכיר הצבאי |url=https://www.israelhayom.co.il/article/621559 |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=Israel Hayom}} In 2021, he was appointed as the commander of the Judea and Samaria Division.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-06 |title=תא״ל אבי בלוט ימונה למפקד אוגדת יהודה ושומרון |url=https://www.inn.co.il/news/442617 |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=Arutz Sheva |language=he}}
He occupied the office during the crackdown against a wave of terror attacks which began in March 2022. During the crackdown and the effort to neutralize militant terror cells around the West Bank, codename Operation Wave Breaker, the number of battalions under Bluth comman more than doubled, from 11 in time he took office to 27 by July 2023. Bluth also commanded the division during Gaza war with its spillover to the West Bank.
On June 20, 2024, Bluth was promoted to the rank of Aluf (major general),{{Cite web |title=מפקד פקמ"ז הנכנס הועלה לדרגת אלוף|url=https://www.idf.il/אתרי-יחידות/יומן-המלחמה/כל-הכתבות/הפצות/מפקד-פיקוד-המרכז-אבי-בלוט-אלוף-יהודה-פוקס-איוש-יהודה-ושומרון-חילופי-תפקידים-מינויים-צהל-אתצ/|access-date=2024-06-20|website=www.idf.il}} and on July 8, 2024, he was appointed as the commander of the Central Command (Israel).{{Cite web |title=מפקד חדש לפיקוד המרכז|url=https://www.idf.il/אתרי-יחידות/פיקוד-המרכז/כל-הכתבות/2024/לייב-טקס-החלפת-מפקד-פיקוד-המרכז/|access-date=2024-07-08|website=www.idf.il}}
Awards and decorations
Avi Bluth was awarded three campaign ribbons for his service during three conflicts.
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Personal life
Bluth is married and has six children; he resides with his family in the Moshav Nehusha. He has a bachelor's degree in philosophy, economics, and political science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a master's degree in strategic thinking from the United States Army War College in Pennsylvania.
References
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{{IsraelCentralCommandChiefs}}
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