Aluf

Aluf

Aluf is the term used for General and Admiral in the Israel Defense Forces . In addition to the Aluf rank itself, there are four other ranks which are derivatives of the word...

 (Vice Admiral, Major General) Ram Rothberg is a general in the Israel Defense Forces

Israel Defense Forces

The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...

 that currently serves as the head of the Israel Navy.

Service History

Ram Rothberg commanded the Flotilla 13 commando force from 2001 to 2004 and presided over some of its most illustrious operations, such as the raid on the Karin A arms smuggling ship in January 2002.

He later served as the Chief of Naval Intelligence during the Second Lebanon War and was reprimanded by then-Chief of Staff Dan Halutz

Dan Halutz

' is an Israeli Air Force Lt. General and former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and commander of the Israeli Air Force. Halutz was appointed as Chief of Staff on June 1, 2005. On January 17, 2007 he announced his resignation. He has a degree in economics. He was born to a Mizrahi...

 for the 14 July 2006 attack on the INS Hanit. An Iran

Iran

Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...

ian missile fired by Hezbollah hit the ship, whose crew was apparently unaware that the Lebanese

Lebanon

Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...

 group possessed such weapons. The strike left four soldiers dead. Rothberg was criticized over his contribution to the failure, but later was promoted to the position of commander of the Navy's Haifa

Haifa

Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...

 base.

Afterwards, Rothberg served in the Israeli National Security Council

Israeli National Security Council

The Israeli National Security Council is Israel's central body for coordination, integration, analysis and monitoring in the field of national security and is the staff forum on national security for the Israeli Prime Minister and Government. However, national security decisions typically made by...

.

Commander of the Israeli Navy

On 4 August 2011, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved his appointment as the next head of the Israel Navy, after being nominated by IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz. He is to be be promoted in rank to Major General (Aluf

Aluf

Aluf is the term used for General and Admiral in the Israel Defense Forces . In addition to the Aluf rank itself, there are four other ranks which are derivatives of the word...

). He will replace Maj. Gen. Eliezer Marom, who is retiring after serving in the IDF for 37 years. He was not the front runner for the post and the appointment was received with surprise by military officials.
On 10 October 2011, in a ceremony held at the Navy base in Haifa, Maj. Gen. Rothberg entered his role as commander of the Israel Navy.