Saar Salame

Saar Salame was born in 1969 in Atlit

Salama was born on March 4, 1969, and grew up in Atlit. He studied at the military boarding school for command in Haifa and later moved to the Reali School in Haifa.

He joined the IDF in 1987 and volunteered for Shayetet 13, where he became a platoon commander, intelligence officer and head instructor. He then completed the naval officers' course, studied at the United States Naval War College, and commanded INS Yaffo.

He went on to command the 916 squadron, squadron 31, the Eilat and Ashdod naval bases, and the missile boat flotilla. After the National Security College, he commanded the Haifa naval base, served in the Depth Corps, and became chief of the Navy staff in 2019.

In 2021 he became Commander of the Navy and led it during the Gaza war. Turkey issued an arrest warrant against him and a Spanish court opened preliminary proceedings involving him. In November 2025 the Chief of Staff gave him a command note over the Navy's failure to defend the coast on October 7. He handed over command to Eyal Harel on April 16, 2026.

He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the Ruppin Academic Center and a master's degree in humanities from the University of Haifa. He is married to Daphne and has three children.