Israeli Military decorations
Encyclopedia
The Israel
i Military decorations are the decorations awarded to soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces
who exhibit extraordinary bravery and courage.
Its decorations consist of the Medal of Valor (the highest decoration in the IDF), the Medal of Courage
, and the Medal of Distinguished Service
. It also includes the Citations (Tzalash), which are awarded in four classes.
Three soldiers share the title of being the most decorated soldier of the IDF: Major
Nechemya Cohen
(1943-1967), General Ehud Barak
(formerly Chief of Staff
, later Defense Minister and Prime Minister
, born 1942), and Major
Amitai Hason. All have five decorations: one Medal of Distinguished Service and four Chief Of Staff Citations.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i Military decorations are the decorations awarded to soldiers in 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...
who exhibit extraordinary bravery and courage.
Its decorations consist of the Medal of Valor (the highest decoration in the IDF), the Medal of Courage
Medal of Courage
The Medal of Courage is an Israeli military decoration. The medal is awarded for carrying out acts of gallantry at the risk of life, during combat duty. The medal was established in 1970 by act of law in the Knesset....
, and 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....
. It also includes the Citations (Tzalash), which are awarded in four classes.
Three soldiers share the title of being the most decorated soldier of the IDF: Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Nechemya Cohen
Nechemya Cohen
Nechemiah Cohen is the most decorated soldier in the history of the Israel Defense Forces [IDF).. He shares this honour with close friend and former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Major Amitai Hason. He received five decorations - one Medal of Distinguished Service and four Chief Of Staff Citations...
(1943-1967), General Ehud Barak
Ehud Barak
Ehud Barak is an Israeli politician who served as Prime Minister from 1999 until 2001. He was leader of the Labor Party until January 2011 and holds the posts of Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister in Binyamin Netanyahu's government....
(formerly Chief of Staff
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...
, later Defense Minister and Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Israel
The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel . The prime minister is the country's chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala is in Jerusalem...
, born 1942), and Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Amitai Hason. All have five decorations: one Medal of Distinguished Service and four Chief Of Staff Citations.
Decorations
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Medal of Valor The highest decoration |
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Medal of Courage Medal of Courage The Medal of Courage is an Israeli military decoration. The medal is awarded for carrying out acts of gallantry at the risk of life, during combat duty. The medal was established in 1970 by act of law in the Knesset.... |
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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.... |
Citations (Tzalash)
| Chief Of Staff (Ramatkal) 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... Citation |
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| Head of Regional Command (Aluf) Aluf Aluf is the term used for General and Admiral in the Israel Defense Forces . In addition to the Aluf rank itself, there are four other ranks which are derivatives of the word... Citation |
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| Divisional Commander Citation | |
| Brigade Commander Citation | |
Campaign ribbons
Campaign ribbons awarded for service during war. Citation is worn on the campaign ribbon in times of war . |
War of Independence 1948 Arab-Israeli War The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded... |
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Sinai War |
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Six Day War |
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War of Attrition War of Attrition The international community and both countries attempted to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. The Jarring Mission of the United Nations was supposed to ensure that the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 242 would be observed, but by late 1970 it was clear that this mission had been... |
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Yom Kippur War Yom Kippur War The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria... |
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First Lebanon War 1982 Lebanon War The 1982 Lebanon War , , called Operation Peace for Galilee by Israel, and later known in Israel as the Lebanon War and First Lebanon War, began on 6 June 1982, when the Israel Defense Forces invaded southern Lebanon... |
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Second Lebanon War |
Service ribbons
Service ribbons awarded for activity in the struggle for the establishment of Israel. |
Hashomer Hashomer Hashomer was a Jewish defense organization in Palestine founded out of Bar-Giora in April 1909. It ceased to operate after the founding of the Haganah in 1920. The purpose of Hashomer was to provide guard services for Jewish settlements in the Yishuv, freeing Jewish communities from dependence... Ribbon |
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Nili Nili Nili of Israel will not lie") was a Jewish espionage network which assisted the United Kingdom in its fight against the Ottoman Empire in Palestine during World War I.-Establishment:... Ribbon |
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Jewish Legion Jewish Legion The Jewish Legion was the name for five battalions of Jewish volunteers established as the British Army's 38th through 42nd Battalions of the Royal Fusiliers... Ribbon |
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Haganah Haganah Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, which later became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.- Origins :... Ribbon |
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Etzel Irgun The Irgun , or Irgun Zevai Leumi to give it its full title , was a Zionist paramilitary group that operated in Mandate Palestine between 1931 and 1948. It was an offshoot of the earlier and larger Jewish paramilitary organization haHaganah... Ribbon |
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Lehi Lehi (group) Lehi , commonly referred to in English as the Stern Group or Stern Gang, was a militant Zionist group founded by Avraham Stern in the British Mandate of Palestine... Ribbon |
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Mishmar Ribbon |
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Fighters against Nazis Ribbon Fighters against Nazis Medal Fighters against Nazis Medal is an Israeli decoration that is awarded to World War II veterans.First instituted as a ribbon bar at 1967 it's was first awarded to World War II veterans at Yom HaShoah the same year by the Prime Minister of Israel, Levi Eshkol.... |
Other ribbons
| Chief of Staff Medal of Appreciation Chief Of Staff Medal of Appreciation The Chief Of Staff Medal of Appreciation is an Israeli military decoration.The medal was instituted in 1981. It is awarded to both civilians and military personnel who contribute to the strengthening of the IDF or the security of Israel; the medal could also be awarded to foreign civilians.The... |
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Hero of Israel Hero of Israel Hero of Israel is an Israeli military decoration that was awarded during the War of Independence.When the IDF was first established in May 1948, a system of decorations had not yet been instituted, but many soldiers who had distinguished themselves in battle were recommended by their officers for... (1948) |
| Qatamon Medal Qatamon Medal Katamon Medal was an Israeli military decoration awarded during the Independence war.The Katamon Medal was instituted in May 1948 as decoration to IDF soldiers who took part in the battle for the conquest of the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem.... (1948) |
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Decoration of State Warriors |
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Mandate Prisoners Decoration |
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Eliyahu Golomb Eliyahu Golomb Eliyahu Golomb was the leader of the Jewish defense effort in Mandate Palestine and chief architect of the Haganah, the underground military organization for defense of the Yishuv between 1920 and 1948.-Early life:... Israel Security Award |