Dan Shomron
Encyclopedia
Gen. Dan Shomron was the 13th Chief of Staff
of the Israel Defense Forces
, from 1987 to 1991.
During the Six-Day War
he commanded a unit on the Egypt
ian front and was the first paratrooper
to reach the Suez Canal
. He was decorated with the Medal of Distinguished Service
for this action.
In 1974 he received the command over the Infantry
and Paratroopers Branch of the Israeli army
. In this function, he had command over Operation Entebbe
in 1976. He was also in charge of the dismantling of Israeli settlements and army bases in the Sinai Peninsula
, within the framework of the Camp David Accords
of 1978 with Egypt.
In 1983 he established the ground forces command (in charge of the infantry, tanks, artillery and engineer corps) and was its first commander.
At the age of 50, in 1987 he became the 13th Chief Staff of the IDF. He held this position until 1991. After finishing his term, he served as the Chairman of the Israeli Military Industries.
He died on February 26, 2008, from complications of a stroke three weeks earlier, at the age of 70. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Ramatkal
The Chief of the General Staff, also known as the Commander-in-Chief of the Israel Defense Forces is the supreme commander and Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces. At any given time, the Chief of Staff is the only active officer holding the IDF's highest rank, Rav Aluf , which is usually...
of the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
, from 1987 to 1991.
During the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
he commanded a unit on the Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian front and was the first paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
to reach the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
. He was decorated with the Medal of Distinguished Service
Medal of Distinguished Service
The Medal of Distinguished Service is an Israeli military decoration.- Overview :The medal has instituted in 1970 by act of law in the Knesset and could also be awarded also for actions performed before 1970....
for this action.
In 1974 he received the command over the Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
and Paratroopers Branch of the Israeli army
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
. In this function, he had command over Operation Entebbe
Operation Entebbe
Operation Entebbe was a counter-terrorist hostage-rescue mission carried out by the Special Forces of the Israel Defense Forces at Entebbe Airport in Uganda on 4 July 1976. A week earlier, on 27 June, an Air France plane with 248 passengers was hijacked by Palestinian and German terrorists and...
in 1976. He was also in charge of the dismantling of Israeli settlements and army bases in the Sinai Peninsula
Sinai Peninsula
The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai is a triangular peninsula in Egypt about in area. It is situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the south, and is the only part of Egyptian territory located in Asia as opposed to Africa, effectively serving as a land bridge between two...
, within the framework of the Camp David Accords
Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords were signed by Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on September 17, 1978, following thirteen days of secret negotiations at Camp David. The two framework agreements were signed at the White House, and were witnessed by United States...
of 1978 with Egypt.
In 1983 he established the ground forces command (in charge of the infantry, tanks, artillery and engineer corps) and was its first commander.
At the age of 50, in 1987 he became the 13th Chief Staff of the IDF. He held this position until 1991. After finishing his term, he served as the Chairman of the Israeli Military Industries.
He died on February 26, 2008, from complications of a stroke three weeks earlier, at the age of 70. He is survived by his wife and two children.
See also
- List of Israel's Chiefs of the General Staff of IDF