Rear Adm. Tal Politis has been appointed by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir as Israel’s next defense attaché to the United States, filling a position that remained vacant for about six months, the Times of Israel reported Thursday.

Politis, who most recently served as chief of staff of the IDF Navy, will be promoted to the rank of vice admiral upon taking up the post. The rank is the naval equivalent of major general.

The position became vacant in December after Maj. Gen. Hidai Zilberman, the previous defense attaché to the U.S., ended his term without an immediate replacement.

The delay reportedly followed disagreements between Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and Zamir over the appointment. Katz had pushed for his military secretary, Brig. Gen. Guy Markizeno, to take the role, but Zamir reportedly did not consider him the right fit.

Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Markizeno would instead become his next military secretary. The appointment includes Markizeno’s promotion to the rank of major general, a move Katz had sought for months.

Zamir also appointed Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram, commander of the Gaza Division, to lead the IDF Operations Division, another senior role that had been vacant.

The appointment comes after the previous head of the Operations Division, Brig. Gen. Yisrael Shomer, suddenly retired from the IDF this week after being suspected of “moral offenses.”

The IDF said Zamir spoke with Politis and Hiram and “congratulated them” on their appointments. The military statement did not mention Markizeno’s appointment.

The appointments of Politis and Hiram were approved by Katz, the IDF said.