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Moshe Dayan

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Moshe Dayan was a prominent Israeli military leader and politician.

Ludwig Blum - Moshe Dayan, 1949
Ludwig Blum - Moshe Dayan, 1949

He became a global symbol for the newly established state of Israel. His career spanned several major conflicts and high-level government roles. He served as a commander during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. He also held the position of Chief of the General Staff from 1953 to 1958. Later, he served as Defense Minister during the Six-Day War in 1967.

General Moshe Dayan 1955
General Moshe Dayan 1955

Dayan's life was defined by his involvement in the formation and defense of Israel.

Dayan was born on May 20, 1915, in Kibbutz Degania Alef.

Dvora, Shmuel and Moshe Dayan, 1918
Dvora, Shmuel and Moshe Dayan, 1918

His parents, Shmuel and Dvora, were Jewish immigrants from Ukraine. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Nahalal. This was the first moshav, or farming cooperative, ever established. Dayan attended an agricultural secondary school in this community. He grew up as a Jewish atheist. He was able to speak Hebrew, Arabic, and English fluently.

His military involvement began at the age of 14. He joined the Haganah, which was a Jewish defense force in Mandatory Palestine. During the Arab revolt from 1936 to 1939, he served in the Special Night Squads. These squads were organized by a British officer named Orde Wingate. In 1939, Dayan was part of a group arrested by the Transjordan Frontier Force. Most of his group received 10-year prison sentences. However, they were all released in February 1941 after Chaim Weizmann intervened in London.

During World War II, Dayan joined the Palmach, the elite strike force of the Haganah. He was assigned to a reconnaissance task force attached to the Australian 7th Division. This unit performed covert surveillance missions in Vichy French Lebanon. On June 8, 1941, Dayan was using binoculars to scan enemy positions. A rifle bullet from a sniper struck the binoculars. The metal and glass fragments caused severe damage to his left eye.

Sadeh 1938
Sadeh 1938

He lost the eye and could not wear a glass eye. This led him to adopt the black eye patch that became his trademark.

Dayan held several high-ranking positions during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. He was appointed as the military commander of Jewish-controlled areas in Jerusalem. In this role, he led military offensives such as Operation Wine Press. He also participated in negotiations with Jordanian military commander Abdullah el Tell.

Dayan and el Tell PA-5737197
Dayan and el Tell PA-5737197

In 1949, he was promoted to major general and became the commander of the Southern Command. He advocated for a harsh policy regarding infiltrators crossing the borders from the Gaza Strip and Sinai.

His political career was closely tied to David Ben-Gurion. In 1965, Dayan and Shimon Peres left the Mapai party to form the Rafi party. He served as Defense Minister during the Six-Day War in 1967. However, he faced criticism after the Yom Kippur War in late 1973. He was blamed for a lack of preparedness during that conflict. Consequently, he resigned in early 1974 along with Golda Meir's government.

President Nixon with Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan - NARA - 194702
President Nixon with Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan - NARA - 194702

In his later years, Dayan moved toward diplomacy. After Menachem Begin became Prime Minister in 1977, Dayan joined the Likud-led government. He was expelled from the Israeli Labor Party for this move. He served as Foreign Minister during this period. In this capacity, he played a vital role in negotiating the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

Menachem Begin and Moshe Dayan exits from an aircraft
Menachem Begin and Moshe Dayan exits from an aircraft

His career ended after a life of significant military and diplomatic shifts.

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🖼️ Images & Media (19)
File:Hahaganah.png
Hahaganah.png
File:IDF rav aluf rotated.svg
IDF rav aluf rotated.svg
File:Dvora, Shmuel and Moshe Dayan, 1918.jpg
Dvora, Shmuel and Moshe Dayan, 1918.jpg
File:Sadeh 1938.jpg
Sadeh 1938.jpg
File:A DETACHMENT OF THE JEWISH SUPERNUMERARY POLICE, UNDER THE COMMAND OF MOSHE DAYAN, LINING UP AT THE ESTABLISHMENT SITE OF KIBBUTZ HANITA IN THE WESTER.jpg
A DETACHMENT OF THE JEWISH SUPERNUMERARY...
File:Ludwig Blum - Moshe Dayan, 1949.JPG
Ludwig Blum - Moshe Dayan, 1949.JPG
File:Dayan and el Tell PA-5737197.jpg
Dayan and el Tell PA-5737197.jpg
File:General Moshe Dayan 1955.jpg
General Moshe Dayan 1955.jpg
File:Dayan 9th Brigade 1956.jpg
Dayan 9th Brigade 1956.jpg
File:Dan Hadani collection (990044326870205171).jpg
Dan Hadani collection (990044326870205171).jpg
President Nixon with Israeli Defense...
File:Menachem Begin and Moshe Dayan exits from an aircraft.JPEG
Menachem Begin and Moshe Dayan exits from...

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