ELAZAR, DAVID (DADO)

(1925-1976)

Born in Zaghreb, Yugoslavia, he was brought toPalestineas part of the YouthAliyain 1940. In 1946, he joined thePalmah. In theWar of Independence(1948—49), he participated in the fighting forJerusalemand later in theSinai Peninsula.After a period as a training officer and as an operations officer in the Central Command, he took a leave of absence in 1953 to studyeconomicsand Middle Eastern studies atHebrew University of Jerusalem. In theSinai War(1956), Elazar fought in theGaza Strip. In 1961, he was promoted to the rank of major general. In November 1964, he was appointed commander of the Northern Command, which, during theSix-Day War(1967), captured theGolan Heights. He was appointed head of the Staff Branch in 1969, and he served as the chief of staff of theIsrael Defense Forces(IDF) from January 1972 until April 1974. Elazar resigned in April 1974 after the release of the findings of theAgranat Commission of Inquiry, which blamed him for the initial setbacks at the beginning of theYom Kippur War(1973), for excessive confidence in the ability of the army to contain theEgyptianandSyrianattacks without calling up the reserves, and for incorrect assessments and a lack of preparedness of the IDF at the outbreak of the war. The commission recommended the termination of his role as chief of staff. He later joined theZimshipping company as managing director.