Major General Eyal Harel, the new commander of the Naval Forces

Major General Eyal Harel assumed the position of Commander of the Naval Wing in place of Major General David (Saar) Salama, who served in this position for the past four and a half years and will end his service in the IDF after 39 years. The exciting exchange ceremony was held today (Thursday, 4/16/2026) at the Atlit Base, headed by the Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and with the participation of commanders, soldiers, families and other invited guests.

During the ceremony, Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir, said: "'And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry land, and the waters were a wall to them on their right and on their left,' is written in the Book of Exodus. This is how one of the defining moments in the history of our people is described, a moment when the Jewish people began to take their destiny into their own hands. Today, thousands of years later, the words of the verse resonate with renewed strength. Throughout the generations, we have been forced to fight for our existence, to preserve our identity, and to defend our right to live as a free people in our land. Even after the establishment of the State of Israel, the threats did not cease, and we were required time and time again to stand on the front lines and ensure the security of the state and its citizens."

The Chief of Staff added: "In the face of calls for the destruction of Israel and in the face of an existential threat that is increasingly emerging, we knew that we would not stand idly by. In cooperation with the United States, we embarked on the historic operations "Am Kalavi" and "Roar of the Aryans." With unprecedented force, we struck at the heart of the array that the evil Iranian regime and its proxy organizations had built over decades against the State of Israel. We are removing threats and fortifying our security for years to come. Our enemies, near and far, their emissaries in Tehran and Sanaa, Beirut and Gaza, all realized that anyone who dares to threaten and harm us will pay a heavy price for it."

"David, from your days in the Navy, your determined character, values, and leadership abilities stood out, which led you throughout your service in the force. From your days as a young officer, a team commander in combat in South Lebanon and Judea and Samaria, to commanding the various bases and the arm, you have always been good at seeing the person on deck and while sailing underwater, cultivating and strengthening the human capital in the arm."

"Eyal, you arrive ripe and ready to command the naval branch and lead it in the coming years. You rose from the ranks of captains, commanded naval bases, soldiers and many fighters, passed through the operational headquarters positions, long years prepared you for this moment. Along the way, you demonstrated broad systemic vision, in your last position you reunified the planning department into a unified, influential and proactive department."

"Now, with the change of command, the naval arm will continue to stand guard, alert and determined, promising to defend the State of Israel, the vast expanses of the sea and the shores of our country, to preserve its freedom and fortify its security. Rise up and succeed." 

The outgoing commander of the Naval Forces, Major General David (Saar) Salama, said in his speech: "A time of war, a time of peace, and now also a time of farewell. I stand here before you and try to summarize in words the role of my life. Here, on the shoreline of Atlit, in the place where my life's journey began, I close a circle and say goodbye. A direct line connects you with the diary of my journey. A journey that lasted 39 years and in which I was mostly privileged."

"I was privileged to go through a journey of maturation and development, of deep learning, of refining and shaping worldviews. I was privileged to go through a journey of command under operational stress, of fateful decisions, of daily contact with strategic logic. I was privileged to go through a journey that instilled meaning and values ​​in me, that anchored me as a person and as a commander. And most of all, I was privileged to go through my personal journey, to grow in a groundbreaking organization, unusually valuable, which constitutes a central pillar in the national security of the State of Israel. Dear bereaved families, a kind of our common strength is the memory of the fallen. In every meeting with you, I came to strengthen and I left strengthened. Strengthened by the spirit, the strength and the giving, accompanied by a sense of immense pride. Know that the forces that I mobilized in command of the arm in the war also came from you. I promise that the memory of the fallen sons and daughters will continue to be our compass."

"Men of the Navy, we have endless memories together. Operations, experiences, encounters, moments that left a mark. Feelings of great satisfaction alongside pain, immense pride, heroism, mountains and ravines, quiet waves and storms."

"Chief of Staff, Lt. Col. Eyal Zamir, thank you for the trust, for the guidance, for true friendship and partnership. Thank you for the way you lead the IDF, with leadership and responsibility, in the face of some of the greatest challenges and complexities the State of Israel has ever known. Thank you for the advice, the personal example, the right word and especially the bad ones."

"Eyal, with feelings of pride I hand you the helm of command. You are receiving into your hands a firm, sharp and determined arm. An arm that is aware of the depth of its mission. I am certain that you will march the naval arm forward, to distant horizons, to new achievements. I stand here before you today for the last time as your commander and salute you. You have given me a journey of a lifetime. I am proud of you. I believe in you. I am confident in your ability. Go forth, sail, dare, conquer and return safely to your home ports. Thank you."

The incoming commander of the Naval Forces, Major General Eyal Harel, said in his speech: "Out of a sense of mission, in light of the magnitude of the hour, the weight of responsibility, I accept command of the Naval Forces today, and return to the place where I grew up and to the dear and beloved members of the Naval Forces."

"In these days between Holocaust Remembrance Day and Heroism Day, Memorial Day for the Fallen, and Independence Day, I think about the landscape of my homeland and the roots from which I grew, and they are present with me here on this stage."

"Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, we have risen from a deep fracture to tremendous achievements in all arenas. The State of Israel is currently engaged in a complex multi-sector campaign with unprecedented historical successes. We are changing the face of the Middle East! Our ships and fighters will strike our enemy wherever or from whom they threaten Israeli citizens, freedom of navigation, and our strategic assets at sea."

"We will strengthen and deploy our power in attack together with the IDF's branches. We will fulfill our mission as a strategic branch of the IDF, we will operate in the near, deep and distant arenas of the world, and all of this by virtue of a basic fact: there is no place too far for the naval branch."

"Toward the end of my remarks, I would like to thank you, Chief of Staff, for the trust you have placed in me, along with the Minister of Defense, in appointing me to the position. I would like to wish you, David, the outgoing commander of the Naval Forces, great success moving forward and thank you for 39 years of service, including commanding the force in a multi-theater campaign."

"I would like to conclude my remarks by wishing a speedy recovery to the IDF wounded and expressing gratitude and appreciation to those who are no longer with us but whose spirits always accompany us, my comrades in arms, the fallen Navy soldiers, whose bravery and dedication - their souls - allow us to live here in the country and contribute our part to its defense."