Shmuel Zakai
Encyclopedia
Shmuel Zakai is an Israel
i Brigadier-General who was forcibly discharged from the Israel Defense Force (IDF) in November 2004 by order of Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon.
Zakai resigned as commander of the IDF's Gaza
Division, a position he had held since March 2004, after failing a polygraph
test during an investigation into leaks to the Israeli media during the Days of Penitence
operation in the northern Gaza Strip in October 2004. Zakai was accused of leaking reports to the media that the IDF wanted to end the operation before the political echelon did.
After resigning as head of the Gaza Division, Zakai was removed from the IDF altogether after 24 years of service, with Yaalon saying that his actions had constituted "an abandonment of a division during combat." He was replaced by Aviv Kochavi
, a former commander of the Paratroopers Brigade.
Zakai's previous positions include:
Zakai was reportedly close to Defense Minister and former Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz
, who promoted him to brigadier general before he attained a division command.
Zakai is a graduate of the IDF Staff College and has a degree in humanities from Tel Aviv University
.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i Brigadier-General who was forcibly discharged from the Israel Defense Force (IDF) in November 2004 by order of Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon.
Zakai resigned as commander of the IDF's Gaza
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
Division, a position he had held since March 2004, after failing a polygraph
Polygraph
A polygraph measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions...
test during an investigation into leaks to the Israeli media during the Days of Penitence
Operation Days of Penitence
Operation Days of Penitence was the name used by Israel to describe an Israel Defense Forces operation in the northern Gaza Strip, conducted between September 30, 2004 and October 16, 2004...
operation in the northern Gaza Strip in October 2004. Zakai was accused of leaking reports to the media that the IDF wanted to end the operation before the political echelon did.
After resigning as head of the Gaza Division, Zakai was removed from the IDF altogether after 24 years of service, with Yaalon saying that his actions had constituted "an abandonment of a division during combat." He was replaced by Aviv Kochavi
Aviv Kochavi
Major General Aviv Kochavi is an Israel Defense Forces officer. He was the commander of the Gaza Division during the unilateral disengagement, and until recently was the head of the Operations division in the Operations Directorate...
, a former commander of the Paratroopers Brigade.
Zakai's previous positions include:
- 2002–2004: Commander, Edom Division
- 1999–2001: Commander, GolaniGolani BrigadeThe Golani Brigade is an Israeli infantry brigade that is subordinated to the 36th Division and traditionally associated with the Northern Command. Its symbol is a green tree on a yellow background, and its soldiers wear a brown beret. It is one of the most highly decorated infantry units in the...
infantry brigade - 1998–1999: Commander, Hiram Formation (Northern Command)
- 1995–1996: Battalion commander, IDF Officer's School
- 1993–1994: Deputy commander, Hiram Formation
- 1981–1994: Served various positions in Golani Brigade, up to battalion commander.
Zakai was reportedly close to Defense Minister and former Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz
Shaul Mofaz
Lt. General Shaul Mofaz is an Israeli politician who serves as the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs And Defense Committee at the Knesset...
, who promoted him to brigadier general before he attained a division command.
Zakai is a graduate of the IDF Staff College and has a degree in humanities from Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
.