As part of his consultations on the appointment of the next Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, Defense Minister Amir Peretz met Friday with GOC Central Command General Yair Naveh. He also intends to consult also with GOC Southern Command General Yair Galant.

Army sources expressed wonder at Peretz' decision to consult with generals in active service. According to the sources, it is uncustomary for a defense minister to seek the advice of commanding officers on the appointment of their next superior.

Peretz's preferred replacement for Dan Halutz, who resigned on Wednesday, is Defense Ministry Director General Gabi Ashkenazi. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's preferences are less clear, but he is thought to favor Deputy Chief of Staff Moshe Kaplinsky.

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Tensions between the two ministers were already visible on Wednesday night, after Olmert's office announced that the prime minister intended to lead the process of choosing a new chief of staff.

Olmert wants to finalize the choice and bring it to the cabinet for approval within 10 days. Legally, however, only the defense minister is authorized to propose a candidate to the cabinet.

On Olmert met with a number of political figures to discuss the list of contenders for the position of Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, following Lieutenant General Dan Halutz's resignation earlier this week.

In talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, Shimon Peres, Ehud Barak and Shaul Mofaz over the course of the day, Olmert mentioned the names of only three candidates - Major General Gabi Ashkenazi, Major General Moshe Kaplinsky and Major General Benny Gantz.

Meanwhile, Peretz and Halutz decided Thursday to appoint Major General (res.) Moshe Ivri-Sukenik to the position of Northern Command division commander.

The position, which Halutz had abolished a year ago, was created anew as part of changes made following the war in Lebanon.

Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) told Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Thursday during their meeting that he would support any candidate chosen for the position of IDF chief of staff.

"We will stand behind any chief of staff that is chosen," Netanyahu told the prime minister. "That is the order of the day and we must take our time in order to implement the process in a better way."