Who is Eli Sharvit? Ex-naval commander chosen by Netanyahu to lead Israel’s security agency
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed former navy commander Eli Sharvit as the next head of the domestic security agency, his office announced Monday, despite the Supreme Court halting the dismissal of the current chief.
“After extensive interviews with seven qualified candidates, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to appoint former navy commander, Admiral Reservist Eli Sharvit, as the next director of the Shin Bet,” his office stated.
Who is Eli Sharvit?
- Eli Sharvit served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for 36 years, including five years as the Navy commander from 2016 to 2021.
- Born in Sde Boker, southern Israel, Sharvit, 57, is the youngest of three siblings. He began his Navy service in 1985 as an officer and went on to command several missile boats and hold key leadership positions, the Times of Israel reported.
- In 2006, during the Second Lebanon War, he led a missile boat squadron while serving as deputy commander of the Navy’s missile boat fleet.
- Between 2007 and 2009, he worked in the IDF Operations Directorate—the only role he held outside the Navy.
- He later returned to command the missile boat fleet (2009-2011) and was then appointed commander of the
Haifa naval base (2011-2014). - From 2014 to 2016, Sharvit served as chief of staff for the Navy before being promoted to vice admiral and taking command of the Navy. He led the Navy until 2021, including during the May 2021 conflict with Hamas.
- After concluding his military service, he transitioned to executive positions in private sector organisations.
- In early December, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir selected Sharvit to join a committee of retired officers tasked with reviewing and assessing the military’s October 7 investigations.
- Vice Adm. (res.)
Eli Sharvit had previously taken part in demonstrations opposing the government’s judicial reform initiatives. A Ynet report from March 2023 indicated that Sharvit participated in a protest on Tel Aviv’s Kaplan street, alongside other former military officials. - Despite having no background in Arabic language or Palestinian matters, Sharvit’s potential appointment would not be unusual for a Shin Bet leadership position.
