Brig. Gen. Kamil Abu Rokon was promoted to the rank of major general on Thursday as he was appointed the new Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, replacing outgoing COGAT Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, who served in the position for the last four years.

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The appointment ceremony was held at the IDF chief of staff's office in the Kirya IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, and was attended by Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and members of the IDF General Staff.

Abu Rokon, who is currently the head of the Border Crossings Authority in the Defense Ministry, is set to officially take the position in May. He will be the second Druze appointed to the post, as well as the second Druze to ever reach the rank of major general.

Brig. Gen. Kamil Abu Rokon receiving his new rank (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

"As the most senior representative of the Druze community in the defense establishment and in the IDF, I take upon myself an additional responsibility, even if not formally, to work for the full integration of members of the community in the IDF and the state, to promote the community's activity towards the security of the State of Israel, and to serve as its mouthpiece within the establishment," Abu Rokon said at the ceremony.

Lieberman, lauding Mordechai as a "a one-man advocacy office" who the state owes much gratitude to, told Abu Rokon that COGAT will nevertheless benefit from his experience and skills. He then wished him success in his new post, especially as he enters it at such a "sensitive time."

Eisenkot praised the decision, saying he is confident Abu Rokon is the right man for the job and will bring his "enormous experience to the post."

L to R: Lieberman, Mordechai, Abu Rokon and Eisenkot (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

Mordechai himself commended the selection of Abu Rokon as his replacement.

"Beyond our friendship, he has tremendous knowledge, and I have no doubt that he is right for the task," he said. "I have no doubt that the General Staff will help him, and he will succeed in leading this excellent organization forward."