Gabi Ashkenazi, who was director general of the Defense Ministry, will take over from Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, who resigned last month in the fallout from the war. Halutz, a former air force chief, was criticized as not having enough experience in leading ground forces.

Ashkenazi, a former deputy chief of staff, has a wealth of infantry experience.

He fought as an infantryman in the 1973 Mid-East War, took part in Israel's hostage rescue in Entebbe, Uganda, in 1976 and commanded major operations in the first Lebanon war in 1982 before overseeing the withdrawal of Israeli forces in 2000. He quit the army in 2002 after losing out on the top job to Halutz.

Olmert praised Ashkenazi ahead of the Cabinet vote.

"Gabi is an admired commander and leader with a most impressive record and history," he said. "I have no doubt that he will lead the (army) in dealing with all it needs to deal with, in reaching its capabilities and in achieving what is needed for the security of Israel."

Sources: AP, Ya Libnan