Mordechai Gur

Mordechai Gur, Chief of General Staff

Native name
Birth name
Other name(s)
Nickname(s)
Born	(1930-05-06)6 May 1930 Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine
Disappeared
Status
Died	16 July 1995(1995-07-16) (aged 65) Tel Aviv, Israel
Cause of death
Buried

Mordechai "Motta" Gur (Hebrew: מרדכי "מוטה" גור

6 May 1930 – 16 July 1995) was an Israeli military leader and politician. He served as the Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and later became a member of the Knesset and a government minister.

Early Life

Mordechai Gur was born in Jerusalem during the period of the British Mandate for Palestine. He joined the Haganah in 1946 and later became a member of the Palmach, the elite fighting force of the Haganah.

Military Career

Gur's military career spanned over three decades. He played a significant role in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, where he served in various capacities. During the Six-Day War in 1967, he commanded the 55th Paratroopers Brigade, which was instrumental in the capture of East Jerusalem and the Old City.

In 1974, Gur was appointed as the Chief of the General Staff of the IDF, a position he held until 1978. During his tenure, he oversaw the IDF's operations during the Yom Kippur War and the subsequent reorganization of the military.

Political Career

After retiring from the military, Gur entered politics. He was elected to the Knesset as a member of the Alignment party. He served as the Minister of Health and later as the Minister of Defense.

Death and Legacy

Mordechai Gur passed away on 16 July 1995 in Tel Aviv. He is remembered for his significant contributions to the Israeli military and his role in shaping the country's defense policies.

See Also

• Israel Defense Forces
• Six-Day War
• Yom Kippur War
• Knesset
• Minister of Health (Israel)