The committee evaluating senior appointments in the civil service, headed by retired judge Ya'akov Tirkel, will review the selection of Major General (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi as a replacement for Chief of Staff Dan Halutz, who resigned two weeks ago.

Ashkenazi's appointment is not expected to meet with any particular opposition and will go into effect in mid-February.

Military and political sources said that the petition filed with the Supreme Court against the appointment of a new chief of staff before the interim report of the Winograd Committee, appointed by the government to investigate the recent Lebanon war, is unlikely to prevent Ashkenazi's appointment.

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It is still unclear whether the decision to appoint Ashkenazi, reached by Defense Minister Amir Peretz and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last week, will be brought before the government for approval during the cabinet's meeting on February 4, or later.

Meanwhile, seven colonels visited Deputy Chief of Staff Moshe Kaplinsky on Friday in an effort to persuade him to remain in his post.

Kaplinsky was one of the candidates to replace Halutz and withdrew his candidacy last week once it became clear that Peretz had opted for Ashkenazi, who is currently the director general at the Defense Ministry.

The officers asked Kaplinsky to remain in his post and to help stabilize the army following Halutz's resignation.

Kaplinsky enjoys great popularity and respect among IDF field commanders, particularly following his performance as GOC Central Command during the second intifada.

The officers told Kaplinsky that they represent dozens of other officers of the same rank and said that the IDF needs his expertise in adapting the lessons of the war.

Last week, Kaplinsky met with Ashkenazi and told him that for the time being, he would stay in his post.