JERUSALEM, Feb 4 (Reuters) - A former Israeli general with broad experience battling Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon won cabinet approval on Sunday of his appointment as Israel's new armed forces chief.

Gabi Ashkenazi, currently director-general of the Defence Ministry, will replace Lieutenant-General Dan Halutz, who resigned last month following public criticism of the military's failure to crush Hezbollah in the 2006 Lebanon war.

The cabinet voted unanimously to appoint Ashkenazi, a former infantry commander, to the post, officials said. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Amir Peretz nominated Ashkenazi two weeks ago.

In broadcast remarks at the start of the cabinet session, Olmert said Ashkenazi, 52, will "lead the Israel Defence Forces to full competency and achievements".

Ashkenazi served in southern Lebanon and headed the army's northern command in the final years before Israeli troops, after constant attacks by Hezbollah fighters, withdrew in 2000.

He was widely seen as a safe candidate to replace Halutz, ahead of the preliminary findings, expected in the coming weeks, of a government-appointed panel examining the handling of the war by Israeli leaders and military commanders.

Ashkenazi was not in uniform during the 34 days of fighting in which some 1,200 Lebanese and 157 Israelis were killed.

Halutz, a former air force chief, had been heavily criticised by Israeli military affairs experts over what they described as his over-reliance on air power against Hezbollah.

Ashkenazi was expected to begin his four-year term as chief of staff on Feb. 14.

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