Yanush Ben Gal
Encyclopedia
Avigdor "Yanush" Ben-Gal is a former Israel
i General.
, Poland. When he was three years old, World War II broke out with Germany invading Poland. The family fled to Russia and were sent to Siberia. After Yanush's mother died in Siberia, his father decided to save 3-year old Yanush and his 6 year-old sister Liana by bribing some Polish officials to take the youngsters to safety with the Polish Anders' Army. The siblings first ended up in Tehran
, then they were sent to India, and after many adventures and hardships they were transported to Israel (at the time part of the British Mandate of Palestine). They were placed in a kibbutz, like many European orphans escaping the Holocaust, but soon fled to Tel Aviv, where they were raised by a distant relative.
During the Yom Kippur War
in 1973, Ben-Gal commanded the 7th Armoured Brigade and oversaw the defence of the Golan Heights against Syria
n attack.
The heroic stand of the 7th Armored Brigade and Yanush Ben-Gal's personal heroism and leadership are believed by many to be decisive factors in the Israeli victory over the Syrians.
In late-summer of 1981, Ben-Gal was replaced as commander of the Northern Command by General Amir Drori
.
In June 1997 he was called to testify in a libel suit that Ariel Sharon
brought against the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz for their claim that he had concealed his plans for an operation into Lebanon
in 1982 - during which Ben Gal was still leading the Northern Command.
His testimony at trial, however, contradicted earlier statements he had made at Tel Aviv University
where he stated that the greatest problem with the Lebanon War was the ""secret, unapproved plan of the defense minister and chief of staff.""
The following month Ha'aretz requested that the Attorney General investigate the possibility that Ben Gal had given false testimony in court in exchange for business favours from Sharon. The complaint noted that shortly before his appearance at the trial, Ben Gal was sent by Sharon to explore the possibility of a large natural gas
deal in Russia
.
In 2001, Ben Gal reportedly submitted an application to train the Congo Army
in Israel.
From 1996 to 2002 he was Chairman of the Board of Directors for Israel Aerospace Industries,
. He also serves on the board for the International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism
.
Since 2009 he has been serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors for N.S.O Group Technologies.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i General.
Life
Ben-Gal was born 1936 in LodzLódz
Łódź is the third-largest city in Poland. Located in the central part of the country, it had a population of 742,387 in December 2009. It is the capital of Łódź Voivodeship, and is approximately south-west of Warsaw...
, Poland. When he was three years old, World War II broke out with Germany invading Poland. The family fled to Russia and were sent to Siberia. After Yanush's mother died in Siberia, his father decided to save 3-year old Yanush and his 6 year-old sister Liana by bribing some Polish officials to take the youngsters to safety with the Polish Anders' Army. The siblings first ended up in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, then they were sent to India, and after many adventures and hardships they were transported to Israel (at the time part of the British Mandate of Palestine). They were placed in a kibbutz, like many European orphans escaping the Holocaust, but soon fled to Tel Aviv, where they were raised by a distant relative.
During the 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...
in 1973, Ben-Gal commanded the 7th Armoured Brigade and oversaw the defence of the Golan Heights against Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n attack.
The heroic stand of the 7th Armored Brigade and Yanush Ben-Gal's personal heroism and leadership are believed by many to be decisive factors in the Israeli victory over the Syrians.
In late-summer of 1981, Ben-Gal was replaced as commander of the Northern Command by General Amir Drori
Amir Drori
Amir Drori was an Israeli general, founder and the first director general of the Israel Antiquities Authority.-Military career:Amir Drori was born in Tel Aviv in 1937 and graduated from the IDF's Junior Command Preparatory School in Haifa. He was drafted into the Israel Defence Forces in 1955,...
.
In June 1997 he was called to testify in a libel suit that Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
brought against the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz for their claim that he had concealed his plans for an operation into Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 1982 - during which Ben Gal was still leading the Northern Command.
His testimony at trial, however, contradicted earlier statements he had made at 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:...
where he stated that the greatest problem with the Lebanon War was the ""secret, unapproved plan of the defense minister and chief of staff.""
The following month Ha'aretz requested that the Attorney General investigate the possibility that Ben Gal had given false testimony in court in exchange for business favours from Sharon. The complaint noted that shortly before his appearance at the trial, Ben Gal was sent by Sharon to explore the possibility of a large natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
deal in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
In 2001, Ben Gal reportedly submitted an application to train the Congo Army
Military of the Republic of the Congo
The Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo include an Army, the Congolese Air Force, and a Navy . Paramilitary organisations include 2,000 Gendarmerie in 20 companies, and a Presidential Guard, possibly organised into a battalion...
in Israel.
From 1996 to 2002 he was Chairman of the Board of Directors for Israel Aerospace Industries,
. He also serves on the board for the International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism
International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism
The International Institute for Counter-Terrorism is a non-profit organization located at the Interdisciplinary Center , Herzliya, Israel. The ICT was founded in 1996 and describes itself as "the leading academic institute for counter-terrorism in the world, facilitating international cooperation...
.
Since 2009 he has been serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors for N.S.O Group Technologies.